RESULTS (PDF)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The point of the steeplechase is to make as little of a splash as possible at the water jumps. Metaphorical splashes are encouraged, however, and Sarah Medved made a big one Friday, as she broke the school record in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase while making her debut in the event at the L&C Spring Break Open.
 
Medved had never competed in the steeplechase before as a Viking, but became the first Viking women's runner to crack 11 minutes, regardless, with her finish in 10:58.17 Friday. Medved's time beat the old record of 11:11.60 that Mandy Peterson set 15 years ago in 2003.
 
Medved's record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase comes just under two weeks after Alana Chaplin broke the record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the Teddy Twilight on March 3. Chaplin finished the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7:36.00, making the Vikings 2-for-2 in steeplechase records this season after Medved's record Friday.
 
Besides Medved, the Vikings had four athletes compete in the women's long jump, with Ta'mara Richey, Nia Powdrell and Kristen O'Handley going 1-2-3, respectively.
 
Richey won the event with a best jump of 18-11.25 (5.77m), just off her season-opening mark last season, when she started the season with a mark of 19-00.00 (5.79m) at the Trojan Invitational.
 
Powdrell placed second behind Richey with a best jump of 18-04.50 (5.60m). Powdrell hadn't competed in the long jump since the indoor season of her freshman year, but her mark Friday stood just off her indoor personal best of 18-06.00 (5.64m), set at last season's Idaho Duals.
 
O'Handley placed third with a best jump of 17-04.75 (5.30m), which stands as her second best mark this season behind the personal best she set at 17-07.50 (5.37m) during the pentathlon at the Big Sky Indoor Championships. Nicole Terry also set her second best mark of the season, as she placed seventh overall with a best jump of 16-09.25 (5.11m).
 
Jaron Barrow led the men's long jump from his first attempt in the competition, but extended his lead with a final jump of 22-05.00 (6.83m). Jean-Luc Toku, meanwhile, placed fourth with a best jump of 21-04.75 (6.52m), and Kevin Luyamba followed in eighth with a personal-best mark of 20-02.25 (6.15m).
 
The Vikings continue with day two of the L&C Spring Break Open tomorrow. Field events start at 10 a.m. for the Vikings, while track events start at 11 a.m.
 
L&C Spring Break Open
Portland, Ore.
Griswold Stadium on the Eldon Fix Track
March 16, 2018
 
Women's Results:
3,000m Steeplechase: 1. Sarah Medved, 10:58.17. Long Jump: 1. Ta'mara Richey, 18-11.25 (5.77m); 2. Nia Powdrell, 18-04.50 (5.60m); 3. Kristen O'Handley, 17-04.75 (5.30m); 7. Nicole Terry, 16-09.25 (5.11m).
 
Men's Results:
High Jump: Chance Whitehurst, NH. Long Jump: 1. Jaron Barrow, 22-05.00 (6.83m); 4. Jean-Luc Toku, 21-04.75 (6.52m); 8. Kevin Luyamba, 20-02.25 (6.15m).