SPOKANE WA – The Crusaders went to war in Spokane Falls Community College over the weekend. Specifically WAORID III (War III) where the Washington colleges took on the border states of Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Teams competing this weekend were, Washington State, Idaho, Eastern Washington, Seattle Pacific, Montana, Concordia, Spokane CC, Northwest Nazarene, Eastern Oregon, Lewis & Clark, Central Washington, Treasure Valley CC, Whitworth, Gonzaga, Great Falls and Seattle U.
War III brought teams competing some of the best weather they have seen this season, and the NNU Crusaders saw good things happen in three's.
On the Men's side:
One
Maurus Hope (So, Adrian Oregon) won the Men's 400m Hurdles in a GNAC leading 54.37, just .37 seconds off the National Provisional qualifier. Maurus won himself a travel bag and a pie, yes a pie as all 1st place competitors walked away with a bag and some pie.
Two
The Men's 4x100m relay (Derek Sepe So, Everett Wa, Mark Hanson, Sr. Nampa ID, Dan Hill, Jr, Castleford ID, and Maurus Hope, So. Adrian Or) placed second in 42.70 and walked away with a War III T-shirt and some XL candy bars, as all 2nd place competitors were awarded.
Three
Barak Watson placed 3rd in the Men's 5K in 14:54.62, about 10 seconds off the National provisional mark of 14:45. In an exciting finish Lewis & Clarks Dave Marks (Fr.) put the hammer down in the last 300m of the race to claim second, but Barak Watson poured out everything he had to hold off Montana's Michael Fischer (Jr.) at the finish line. Barak won a War III relay baton for his third place effort.
On the Women's side:
One
Jaclyn Puga (Jr. Meridian, ID) earned a travel bag and some pie as she won the women's 3,000m steeplechase walking away from the field winning by nearly 20 seconds over Washington State's Amanda Andrews, in a time of 11:08.75 .
Two
Jasmyn Jewett (Fr. Mt. Home ID) stood up to be recognized in the horizontal jumps this weekend as she placed 2nd in the Women's Triple jump, walking away with a T-shirt and some XL candy after a jump of 11.45 cm (37' 6.75”) just 10 cm of the National provisional mark of 11.55. Jasmyn also placed 7th in the Women's long jump with a leap of 5.19 (17' 0.5”).
Three
Jordan Powell (Fr, Nampa ID) placed 10th in the women's 5,000m in a School Record time of 18:12.58. Powell continues to impress in each of her races this year. Jordan sits in 12th place on a deep GNAC 5k list that currently has 8 runners provisionally qualified for the National meet.
In the end, the Washington schools won the War on both the Men's and Women's sides and walked away with the trophy. The Crusaders will compete again next Saturday in La Grande, Oregon at the Eastern Oregon Invitational against EOU, College of Idaho, and Treasure Valley CC.
