The WashU track and field teams traveled to Whitewater, Wisconsin, for the Midwest Elite Invitational, where the No. 3-ranked women’s team delivered another dominant performance, racking up 175.5 points to secure a first-place finish, while the No. 21 men’s team placed fourth with 76 points. Against a deep field of top regional programs, the Bears once more established themselves as contenders for the indoor track and field championships as they head into the postseason. 

Junior Jasmine Wright once again proved she’s one of the fastest sprinters in Division III, winning the 60-meter dash in 7.59 seconds, her fastest time of the season. Wright’s quick reaction time off the blocks gave her an early edge that she maintained through the finish. 

“In terms of mental prep, I don’t do much,” Wright said. “I think often less is better, and not thinking about too much is key. I feel that I do my best when I just race and have nothing else on my mind.” 

She also competed in the 200 meters, placing ninth in a competitive final. 

Senior Lauren Gay added crucial points for the Bears, finishing second in the 200 meters (25.50 seconds) and 60-meter hurdles (9.11 seconds), while senior Nicole Stewart finished fourth in the 200 meters (25.71 seconds).

The Bears continued their dominance in the middle-distance races, particularly in the 800 meters, where they took 11 of the top 13 spots. Senior Izzy Gorton led the charge, winning in 2:14.50, with sophomore Caroline Echols finishing second in 2:15.14. First-year Kalena Riemer followed closely, placing fourth in 2:16.12. The mile saw another 1-2 finish, as junior Katie Rector won in 5:02.79, followed by senior Virginia Pridgen in 5:04.54.

In the men’s squad, sophomore William Frohling secured one of the team’s biggest wins, taking first place in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.14. Frohling approached the race with a clear plan, emphasizing a strong start and controlled pacing. 

“My strategy heading into the race was to get out hard and trust that my training had set me up to finish strong the last two laps,” he said. 

Junior Brandon Brazil followed with a fourth-place finish in 1:57.14, adding more depth to WashU’s strong mid-distance group.

Senior Yasmin Ruff delivered another milestone performance in the pole vault, breaking her own school record with a clearance of 4.10 meters. The jump not only secured her fifth consecutive victory, but it also ranks ninth in D-III history of all-time performances. Ruff has been steadily improving throughout the season and now sits atop the national rankings heading into championship meets. 

The men also had a strong showing in the pole vault, as junior Peter Lichtenberger claimed first place (4.96 meters), while graduate student Tommaso Maiocco and junior Hayden Kunkel tied for third, clearing 4.71 meters.

With another successful meet behind it, WashU will now turn its focus to the Illinois College Hilltop Classic on Feb. 21, looking to fine-tune performances before heading into the championship portion of the season.