Throwers Take Charge In Outdoor Opener

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Limited to just two events during the indoor season, the Husky throwers made the most of their chances but now outdoors, with four implements at their disposal, the throwers showed their sizable potential at the Aztec Invitational. It was the first outdoor action for the UW track and field squad.
 
All four throwing events saw the Huskies all but certainly secure spots for NCAA West Prelims late in the year. Washington also had a thrilling win from All-American Cass Elliott, who won the 400m hurdles in a time faster than he ran in all of 2022.
 
It started on Friday in the hammer throw, with Jayden White getting a strong season-opening toss of 221-7 to take third. Beatrice Asomaning had a PR on the women’s side of 183-3 which moved her to No. 5 in school history. Yvonne Colson also had a best of 154-9.
 
The first event this morning was the women’s javelin, and Tanya Simora came out of the early flight to wind up winning the event with a big collegiate best of 156-8, ten feet farther than her previous best as a Dawg. She also had a second-best throw of 152-8. That moved Simora into the UW top-10 for the first time at No. 8.
 
Not only that, but freshman Saydi Orange had an impressive collegiate debut in the javelin, going 155-3, typically in range of a Prelims qualifier, and just one inch out of the UW top-10. Natalie Holmer opened with a 144-6, near her personal-best, and Kathleen Horn went 135-8.
 
On the men’s side, newcomer Chandler Ault got right down to business with a stellar season-opener of 232-feet, 8-inches. That would place the Princeton transfer seventh nationally based on marks entering the weekend. Redshirt freshman Jack Olsen made his official Husky debut going 195-11.

Cass Elliott leaving the field in his wake ??

He wins the 400m hurdles in 50.26, faster than he ran in all of 2022 when he won the Pac-12 ??#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/rrl65Z4hSK

— Washington Track & Field (@UWTrack) March 25, 2023

 
Next for the throwers was their first work this year in the discus. Three-time First Team All-American Elijah Mason needed just one toss to show he’s in midseason form, as he went 193-6 on his first throw of the year, which will land him somewhere in the NCAA top-20. Nolan Such also had a toss of 160-8, just missing the final by one spot.
 
The women had a trio over 170-feet in the discus. Redshirt freshman Kaia Tupu-South…