Indoor Track Returns In The West With Strong Miles By Prakel, Cash At Washington Indoor Preview

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

After two very close attempts at a sub-4mile last February as a high school senior, Cruz Culpepper cracked the barrier Saturday in his first opportunity in a University of Washington uniform. 

Culpepper ran 4:01.66 and then 4:00.10 running as an unattached high school senior on the Dempsey Indoor track in Seattle. 

Nearly a year later, Culpepper ran 3:59.53 for third place behind adidas pro Sam Prakel (3:58.02) and Washington State graduate Paul Ryan (3:58.22) at the Washington Indoor Preview. 

It was a quieter atmosphere than usual at Dempsey Indoor, where admittance was limited to essential personnel, athletes and coaches. 

RESULTS | VIDEO COVERAGE | REPLAY (RUNNERSPACE +PLUS)

Colton Johnsen of Washington State ran a personal-best 7:56.14 to win the 3,000 meters. 

Sadi Henderson from Oiselle Little Wing won the meet's final event, the women's 800 meters, in 2:06.14, edging Alli Cash (2:06.18). 

Cash, of Oiselle Volee, was doubling back after winning the mile, where she ran 4:33.72.

In the morning session, Washington State's Sam Brixey put together a dominant win in the 60-meter hurdles with 7.80 seconds. 

Stanford alum Julian Body won the 400 meters (48.23) after finishing third the 60 hurdles (8.12). 

Washington State's Jasneet Nijjar won the women's 400 meters in 56.11 and came back later to win the 200 in 25.08.

FRIDAY

Washington graduate Olivia Gruver broke her own facility record in the pole vault with a 15-3.75 (4.67m) clearance for an American-leading mark and equal to No. 3 in the world this year.

Washington's Makayla Kelby won the shot put with 51 feet even (15.55m). The Huskies' Sam Van Peursem won the men's shot put with 62-10.75 (19.17m).

In the women's distance medley, BYU won a thrilling showdown against Washington as both teams decimated the meet record. BYU got a strong anchor carry from Courtney Wayment on the way to 11:03.62 and Washington, anchored by Allie Schadler, was second in 11:06.66.