RESULTS

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Podium welcomed the Portland State track & field team for the first time Friday, as the Vikings competed on the first day of the WSU Open.
 
Wendy Hare got the most time in the 14-month-old venue, as she competed in two events between the women's long jump and 200 meters. Hare, who became the first Viking since 2020 to complete a pentathlon when she competed in the multi-event at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open, was looking to expand her tool bag Friday in order to prepare for more multi-events in the future.
 
Hare opened the day in the long jump, where she saw a 14-inch improvement in the event. Hare improved her mark with each jump Friday, ultimately topping out at 16-05.75 (5.02m) on her third and final attempt.
 
Hare then returned to the track to run her first 200-meter race as a Viking later in the day. Competing in the final of 20 heats, Hare placed third in her heat in 26.17 seconds.
 
Abdi Ibrahim closed out the day for the Vikings, running his first collegiate indoor 5k. Ibrahim, who moved up to eighth all time in the indoor 3k last week at the UW Invitational, added another top 10 mark with his 5k finish in 15:19.59. That moves Ibrahim up to 10th all time at Portland State at the distance.
 
Chase Lovercheck also ran his first 800-meter race of the season Friday. A two-time All-Big Sky performer in the outdoor 800, Lovercheck had twice doubled in the 600 and 1,000 meters earlier this season, but had yet to run a race at his primary distance. Friday wasn't a true display of Lovercheck's abilities in the 800, though, as he finished 16th overall in 1:56.09.
 
Lovercheck, who was running on a banked, 200-meter track for the first time, got a tough draw at the start. He was placed out wide and back from the lead group, which went out way faster than Lovercheck's group. That saw Montana State's Duncan Hamilton and Chris Bianchini take complete control of the race from the jump, and Lovercheck's group could never make up the stagger.
 
But Lovercheck will have more opportunities this season, as will his other Vikings, who return to The Podium for day two of the WSU Open Saturday. Isa Swain is scheduled to open the day for the Vikings, as they compete in the opening section of the women's 3,000 meters at 10 a.m.
 
WSU Open
The Podium
Spokane, Wash.
Feb. 3, 2023
 
Women's Results:
200m: 68. Wendy Hare, 26.17. Long Jump: 38. Wendy Hare, 16-05.75 (5.02m).
 
Men's Results:
800m: 16. Chase Lovercheck, 1:56.09. 5,000m: 13. Abdi Ibrahim, 15:19.59.