From Washington University Athletics
The 2018-19 indoor track & field season opened Saturday evening with Washington University in St. Louis' program competing at the Titan First Chance meet in the Shirk Center.
Senior Heidi Nassos posted a strong 3.80m pole vault height in the season opener to claim first place. She earned an All-American honor last season when she cleared 3.90m to place third overall at the 2018 national championship.
Sophomore Eka Jose, who also competed in the 2018 national championship in the triple jump, dominated the field in the event at the Shirk Center. She cleared 12.29m, breaking the school record set by Kammie Holt in 2003 (11.95m), which was more than three-quarters of a meter further than the runner up.
Sophomore Sophie Grigaux, a national qualifier in 2018 in the 800m, placed first out collegiate runners in the 600m run. She crossed the finish line in 1:39.75, while assistant track & field coach and WashU alum Kelli Blake posted the top time overall from the second heat of runners with a time of 1:38.29.
WashU totaled seven additional top-3 finishes as Jose also placed second in the long jump (5.68m). The remaining top-three finishers were: in the 60m hurdles Jay Pittman (2nd – 8.80); in the 4x400m relay Grigaux, freshman Alicia Gupte, freshman Ava Forman and junior Anna Cossio (3rd – 4:02.52); in pole vault Julia Dannenbaum (2nd – 3.65m); in shot put sophomore Randal Walker (3rd – 11.77m); and in the 600m freshman Lily Howe (2nd – 1:40.88) and freshman Lauren Shpiz (3rd– 1:41.63).