RESULTS

SEATTLE, Wash. — Portland State head track & field coach David Hepburn said he was going to race Chase Lovercheck harder this indoor season. Lovercheck justified that decision Saturday, setting a personal best in the 1,000 meters, then doubling back less than two hours later and setting another personal best in the 600 meters.
 
And it was only Lovercheck's season opener.
 
So, Lovercheck and the Vikings flashed more than just a promising look Saturday while opening their indoor track & field season at the UW Indoor Preview at the Dempsey Indoor Facility.
 
Lovercheck opened his day in the men's 1,000 meters, racing alongside teammate James Bottrill. Lovercheck finished second in his heat in 2:29.88, shaving 3.5 seconds off a personal best he set at the same meet three years ago. He returned to the track less than two hours later, and shaved a quarter of a second off his 600-meter personal best while finishing in 1:22.86.
 
The personal bests moved Lovercheck up to third and sixth all time in the 1k and 600 meters, respectively, at Portland State.
 
Bottrill, Lovercheck's training partner, opened his season with times of 2:33.97 in the 1k and 1:24.70 in the 600 meters. Bottrill's 1k time moved him up to fifth all time in the 1,000 meters at Portland State.
 
Wendy Hare and Ahliah Nordstrom weren't just opening their seasons Saturday, they were opening their Viking careers. The rare non-distance runners within the Vikings' program, they made their PSU debuts Saturday.
 
Hare opened the day for the Vikings, as she placed second in her heat of the 60-meter hurdles while finishing in 9.38 seconds. Hare returned to the track for the women's 600 meters, and won her heat in 1:39.04. Hare's 600-meter time moved her up to fifth all time in the event at Portland State.
 
Nordstrom, meanwhile, became the first Viking to compete in the women's shot put since 2020. She placed 18th overall in the event with a best throw of 33-11.25 (10.34m).
 
More Vikings will be in action next week, as the Vikings head to the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open, Jan. 20-21, and the Portland Indoor One on Jan. 22.
 
UW Indoor Preview
Dempsey Indoor
Seattle, Wash.
Jan. 14, 2023
 
Women's Results:
600m: 9. Wendy Hare, 1:39.04. 60H (Prelims): 11. Wendy Hare, 9.38. Shot Put: 18. Ahliah Nordstrom, 33-11.25 (10.34m).
 
Men's Results:
600m: 4. Chase Lovercheck, 1:22.86; 7. James Bottrill, 1:24.70. 1,000m: 13. Chase Lovercheck, 2:29.88; 17. James Bottrill, 2:33.97.