Big Marks and New Athletes Highlight XO Indoor Season
By Kevin Ullman

2/16/08 – The University of Washington provides a series of indoor meets where athletes from all over the country congregate seeking early season competition. Two of these meets stand above the rest, the UW Invite and the Husky Classic.

Highlights from the UW Invite came from Jeff Fisher in the men’s 800 and Frank Macreery in the men’s 5,000. Fisher ran an aggressive race from the gun, taking the lead on the penultimate lap shortly after the rabbit had dropped at 400 meters and not relinquishing it until eventual winner Kevin Hicks went by on the final straight. Fisher’s 1:49.75 is the first 800 under 1:50 during the indoor season in XO history!

Frank Macreery used the fast heat of the men’s 5k as a warm-up for the World Cross Country Team Trials. His 14:07 must have given him confidence as he ran a fantastic race at the Trials in San Diego to finish 29th overall!

Wins at the Husky Classic came from weight throwers Brittany Hinchcliffe and James Parker. In the women’s weight throw Hinchcliffe overthrew the competition by a foot and a half on her third throw of 63-9.5 to claim the win while Parker saved his best for last (76-5.5), even though his first throw would have won the competition. “The weight throw doesn’t really mean much,” said Parker, referring to the Hammer throw being the primary outdoor event, “we were just out there having fun and working out a little.” Parker and teammate Brian Richotte, who finished 2nd (68-1), will wait until April to open their outdoor campaigns.

Lache Bailey opened her season at the Husky Classic in the 800 with a fairly standard opening time for her of 2:09.97. The time, however, doesn’t tell the whole story – that the race went out for the first 400 in 67 seconds, which means she came home in a blistering 62! “At first I was a little bummed about my race,” said Bailey, “but when I realized how much I negative split it, which I couldn’t have done in college, I started thinking about it more like a really positive time trial, and I’m happy with that.”

Personal records, or near PRs, came from Kalpanatit Broderick in the mile (4:02.12), Jane Rudkin and Kelly Fulerton in the women’s 3k (9:34.87 and 10:06.94 respectively), and Eric Dahl in the men’s 60 (6.98). XO also welcomes newcomer AK Ikwuakor, formerly of the University of Oregon. He finished 11th in the men’s 400 with a time of 48.51. 400 meter hurdle specialist, Ikwuakor, participated on UO’s school record 4x400 relay with a time of 3:00.81 that took third at NCAAs.