Federal Way's Hannah Cunliffe breaks collegiate record in 60 meters at Don Kirby Elite...

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—Federal Way native Hannah Cunliffe (left/photo by Paul Merca) took advantage of the rarified air to set a new collegiate record in the 60 meter dash at the Don Kirby Elite meet.

Cunliffe ran 7.07 to win the race at the Albuquerque Convention Center over University of Oregon teammates Deajah Stevens (7.21) and Makenzie Dunmore (7.25), to break the collegiate record of 7.08 set by Remona Burchell of Alabama two years ago, and the American collegiate record of 7.09 set by Angela Williams of USC in 2001, and tied by Kya Brookins of South Carolina in 2011.

In the qualifying round, Cunliffe, who entered the meet with a season best of 7.13, ran 7.20 to easily win her heat and clock the fastest time of the three heats.

Tacoma native Marcus Chambers, who also competes for the University of Oregon, won the men’s 400 in 46.45 in a hotly contested race with Arizona’s Miles Parish, who finished in 46.50.

Washington State sent a squad of sprinters and hurdlers to the Don Kirby Elite meet, with Ja’Maun Charles finishing sixth in the men’s 60 in a personal best 6.75, while freshman Sam Brixey was 4th overall in the 60 hurdles, running 7.96.


At the Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, two time US Olympian Lopez Lomong (#897/photo by Paul Merca) won a hotly contested mile run over Bowerman TC teammate and 2016 Olympic steeple silver medalist Evan Jager to highlight competition at the Husky Classic Saturday, hosted by the University of Washington.

Lomong took command over the last lap and held off the charge of Jager, as both were credited with identical times of 3:56.55, taking six other runners under the 4 minute mile mark.

In the previous heat, Oklahoma State’s Craig Nowak just squeaked under the 4 minute mark, winning in a time of 3:59.98 for a total of 9 men under 4 minutes on the day.

The women’s mile saw Penn State’s Danae Rivers hanging on to win in 4:32.55, as the Huskies’ Amy-Eloise Neale came from fourth place on the final lap to take second in 4:34.15, the second fastest time in UW school history.

The Huskies’ Kennadi Bouyer set a meet record in winning the women’s 60 dash in 7.28.

Oregon’s Katie Rainsberger won the women’s 3000 in 9:01.21, the fastest collegiate time this year.

On the field, the most impressive mark of the day was placed by Concordia/Oregon’s McKenzie Warren, who broke the NCAA Division II all-time indoor record in the shot put with a throw of 57-9.75 (17.62m).

US Olympian Andrea Geubelle from University Place won the triple jump with a best of 43-1 (13.13m) to beat WSU alum Blessing Ufodiama, who jumped 42-8.25 (13.01m).  Both achieved the USA indoor qualifying mark of 13 meters (42-8). Geubelle was particularly happy with her jump considering that this meet was like a training session, due to the bad weather and the lack of access in the South Sound area to an indoor jump runway.

Action at the Dempsey Indoor continues Sunday with the UW Open meet, featuring many of the area’s Division I and II schools, with community college and high school competitors mixed in.


In New York, Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts upset teammate Cas Loxsom to win the men’s 1000 meters at the NYRR Millrose Games Saturday at the Armory.

Shaq Walker of the Beasts was sixth in a time of 2:23.70.

Camas’ Alexa Efraimson was ninth in the women’s Wanamaker mile, running 4:29.54, while UW alum Katie Mackey of the Brooks Beasts was tenth in 4:33.59.

In the women’s 800, Stanford alum and French Olympian Justine Fedronic, who trains with the Beasts TC, finished fourth in 2:01.36.

In the men’s Wanamaker mile, Washington alum Izaic Yorks was tenth in 4:01.64.


NOTE:  The University of Oregon, University of New Mexico, University of Washington, and the New York Road Runners contributed to this report.

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