SEATTLE – Senior Cass Elliott, a product of West Seattle High School, took down the long-standing Washington School Record in the 400-meter hurdles tonight at the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Ariz. Elliott, the defending Pac-12 Champion in the event, won against a talented field in a time of 49.26 seconds, the fourth-fastest in the NCAA this year.
It’s the second School Record of 2023 for Elliott, who ran the indoor 800-meter school record in February. His time today broke the 2006 record held by Shane Charles, the last Husky to win the Pac-12 title in that event prior to Elliott last year. Two weeks ago at the Mt. SAC Relays, he got under the 50-second barrier for the first time in his career, and now he’s closing in on the 49-second mark.
The action at Arizona was one of three big meets for the Huskies today, also including the famed Penn Relays, and the Fresno State Invitational.
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Cass chases down the ???????????? ???????????? in the 400-meter Hurdles!!
He wins in Tucson tonight in a time of 4?9?.2?6? to break Shane Charles’ mark of 49.51 that was set in 2006.@CassWElliott also goes to #?4? in the NCAA this year!#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/dxQpYgNVbT
— Washington Track & Field (@UWTrack) April 30, 2023
Desert Heat Classic
In the same race as Cass Elliott’s record, also setting a lifetime-best was junior Jonathan Birchman, who rolled to a time of 50.40, moving up to No. 5 in school history and 17th nationally based on marks entering the weekend. Matthew Wilkinson also had a season-best 52.02 tonight.
Other sprint results saw Anthony Smith clock a 200-meters time of 21.09, and Daniel Gaik ran 21.50. Closing out the track action, the Husky men’s 4x400m relay took fifth in a time of 3:10.60.
MaKayla Kelby took third in the women’s shot put with a best of 54-6, and Kaia Tupu-South was fourth at 54-0. Kelby was also fourth in the women’s discus, throwing 171-10, while Beatrice Asomaning threw 163-7 and Tupu-South threw 161-4.
Elijah Mason was the second collegiate finisher in the men’s discus, getting a best of 196-10 on his first throw of the competition.
Freshman Saydi Orange took fifth in the women’s javelin at 159-11, and Natalie Holmer threw over 150-feet for the first time with a mark of 150-8. Tanya Simora was right behind at 150-1.
The final event in Tucson was the men’s javelin, where Chandler Ault again led the way, finishing second-place with a strong series that had a best of 229-0.
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