Complete women's results (PDF)
        Complete men's results (PDF)

SEATTLE – Sammi Markham hit the big four-oh on Sunday afternoon.
 
But for the Seattle Pacific freshman – who, by the way, is only 19 – it had nothing to do with 'over the hill.'
 
This big four-oh was more about 'over the hump.'
 
For the first time in her brief career as a shot putter, Markham propelled it more than 40 feet. Matter of fact, she did it twice at the UW Indoor Open track and field meet, including a heave of 42 feet, 6 inches on her final attempt of the afternoon to place fifth overall at Dempsey Indoor.
 
That mark also put her into third place on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference list heading into next weekend's conference championships in Nampa, Idaho.
                          
"It was amazing – I've never gone past 40, so I was really amped up today," Markham said. "I was listening to what Coach Karl (Lerum) was saying, and I was so excited.
 
Among the things she was hearing from Lerum was, in essence, "Just go do it."
 
"The throws today felt better than any other throws that I've ever (done)," Markham said. "I was being a lot more aggressive. Like Coach was telling me: My form was good, but I just need to let it go."
 
She wasn't the only Falcon freshman making a mark on Sunday. Kyra Brannan was doing the same thing in a different event.
 
For Brannan (Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS), call it the big one-eight – as in 18 feet for the long jump. She had gone that far before, but not in college.
 
Now, she has. Brannan's final distance of 18-1 ¾ (best in the GNAC, pending the outcome of other meets this weekend) was enough to win it, with junior teammate Tasia Baldwin (Tacoma, Wash. / Foss HS) taking second place with a season-best 17-8 ¼.
 
"I felt really good about that – and I didn't really have that much height, so it wasn't that pretty of a jump," said Brannan, who went as far as 18-10 ¼ last spring at Kamiakin. "I just had to break that (18-foot) barrier. It has just been one little step as a time. It definitely got me the confidence I need."
                                                                                                                                      
Prior to Sunday, Markham (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS) had participated in just one meet this winter, throwing 38-6 in her collegiate debut at the season-opening UW Indoor Open on Jan. 18. The two subsequent meets – the UW Invitational and the Husky Classic – are much more selective as to who gets in, and that distance wasn't far enough to make it.
 
She had been in the mid to high 39s while at Gig Harbor High School, but never at 40. She got there for the first time on the final of her three preliminary throws, which went 40-6 ¾.
 
That propelled Markham into the finals, giving her three more tries.
 
"I was just real excited for her to have the opportunity to compete a little longer today," Lerum said. "This whole season, she had just had three throws. We knew she had a lot more ability than she has been able to put out there."
 
Markham's first throw of the finals fell shorter than her last prelim attempt, so she intentionally fouled by stepping over the board at the front of the throwing circle. The next one was slightly farther, though still short of 40 feet.
 
Then on her last one, Markham left no doubt. The shot landed almost exactly midway between the 12- and 14-meter arcs. By her immediate reaction and smile, she knew it was a good one, and the measurement confirmed it: 42-6 (12.95 meters).
 
"It just gives me so much confidence," said Markham, who didn't even take up throwing until her junior year at Gig Harbor – and then only at the behest of a friend who wanted someone else with whom to train. "I was like, 'I don't' know if I can throw 40 – I've never done it.
 
"But knowing I can do that and get 42 is the best feeling ever."
 
SPU has not had a regular female shot put competitor since Brittany Bekins in 2007 and '08. Her best mark in those two years was 40-1. The Falcon school record is 44-7 ¾ by Susan Jung in 1997.


NCAA WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
UW Indoor Open
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Dempsey Indoor / Seattle, Wash.
 
Team scores – Not kept.
 
60-meter dash – 1, Princess Griffey (Philippines) 7.56. SPU placers – T9, BryAnne Wochnick 7.99; T22, Christie Adams 8.22.
60 hurdles – 1, Megan Palesch (Idaho) 8.97. SPU placers – 25, Cheryl Hong 9.98; 34, Ali Sowers 10.49; 37, Maddi Hommes 10.72.
200 – 1, Jamie Ashcroft (UAA) 25.15. SPU placers – 10, Wochnick 26.22; 21, Adams 26.48.
400 – 1, Palesch (Idah0) 58.43. SPU placers – 39, Lindsay LeBrun 1:04.76.
600 – 1, Jessica Smith (Unattached) 1:32.92. No SPU competitors.
800 – 1, Lyndsay Harper (BATC) 2:09.68. SPU placers – 9, Jasmine Johnson 2:17.55; 17, Ellen Ruby 2:23.84; 25, Kiley Zeitler 2:30.32.
1000 – 1, Kevyn Murphy (Hawaii) 2:59.37. No SPU competitors.
Mile – 1, Rose Christen (Unattached) 4:58.91. SPU placers – 17, Anna Patti 5:09.92; 24, Sarah Macdonald 5:17.96; 31, Claire Rachwitz 5:26.34.
3000 – 1, Hillary Holt (College of Idaho) 9:27.27. No SPU competitors.
4x400 relay – 1, Central Washington 'A' 4:09.17. No SPU team.
High jump – 1, Elizabeth Venson (Clackamas) 5-5 ¾ / 1.67m. SPU placers – T7, Sowers 4-11 ¾ / 1.52m; T12, Maddi Hommes and Hong 4-9 ¾ / 1.47m.
Pole vault – 1, Kristina Osinski (UW) 13-5 ¾ / 4.11m. No SPU competitors.
Long jump – 1, Kyra Brannan (SPU) 18-1 ¼ / 5.53m. Other SPU placers – 2, Tasia Baldwin 17-8 ¼ / 5.39m; 25, Sowers 15-1 ½ / 4.61m; 26, Hong 15-1 ¼ / 4.60m; 40, Hommes 13-3 ¼ / 4.04m.
Triple jump – 1, Faith Eurwu (Idaho) 37-4 ½ / 11.39m. No SPU competitors.
Shot put – 1, Charlinda Iaone (Hawaii) 45-5 ¼ / 13.85m. SPU placer – 5, Sammi Markham 42-6 / 12.95m.
Weight throw – 1, Meagan McKee (Fresno St.) 63-3 ¼ / 19.28m. No SPU competitors.
 
                                                                                             
NCAA MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
UW Indoor Open
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Dempsey Indoor / Seattle, Wash.
 
Team scores – Not kept.
 
60-meter dash – 1, Kevin Washington (Clark College) 6.93. SPU placers – 34, David Ferguson 7.33; T47, Ben Smith 7.47.
60 hurdles – 1, Kaleb Dobson (Unattached) 8.36. No SPU competitors.
200 – 1, Jonnie Green (Sewell Institute) 22.04. SPU placers – 14, Ferguson 22.88; 33, RJ Straker 23.46.
400 – 1, Matthew Watson (Unattached) 45.68. SPU placers – 27, Straker 52.71; 37, Justin Ramsey 53.87.
600 – 1, Ben Ayesu-Attah (Idaho) 1:20.55. No SPU competitors.
800 – 1, Grant Grosvenor (Unattached) 1:50.24. SPU placers – 12, Seth Pierson 1:54.87; 22, Adam Avischious 1:57.13; 29, Alex Horton 1:57.99; 47, Ryan Alcantara 2:02.20.
1000 – 1, Nick Hampton (College of Idaho) 2:24.75. No SPU competitors.
Mile – 1, Declan White (Trinity Western) 4:08.77. SPU placers – 34, Turner Wiley 4:33.71; 48, Colin Wilkins 4:49.38.
3000 – 1, Dylan Anthony 9UAA) 8:20.92. No SPU competitors.
4x400 relay – 1, Trinity Western 'A' 3:19.93. No SPU team.
High jump – 1, Tristan Anistas (Unattached) 6-8 ¾ / 2.05m. No SPU competitors.
Pole vault – 1, Nathan Dunford (Trinity Western) 15-11 / 4.85m. No SPU competitors.
Long jump – 1, Arphaxad Carroll (Idaho) 23-3 ¼ / 7.09m. SPU placer – 24, Ben Smith 19-6 ¼ / 5.95m.
Triple jump – 1, Luke Plummer (CWU) 45-0 ¼ / 13.72m. No SPU competitors.
Shot put – 1, Frank Catelli (WWU) 57-5 193. No SPU team.
Weight throw – 1, Kyle Rothwell (Idaho) 60-3 ¾ / 18.43m. No SPU competitors.