Washington still without top 16 qualifying mark entering final day at MPSF Indoor Championships

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Oregon's quest to win another NCAA Division 1 Indoor women's team title began as a difficult one following the decisions of Hannah Cunliffe, Deajah Stevens and Raevyn Rogers to turn professional with eligibility still remaining, in addition to the graduation of 60-meter hurdles champion Sasha Wallace.

But the Ducks' pursuit to repeat could encounter another significant hurdle without the presence of Ariana Washington, the reigning Division 1 indoor 200-meter champion, competing March 9-10 in College Station, Texas.

Entering the final day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships at the Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle, Washington still doesn't have a top 16 mark in either sprint event.

Washington didn't compete Friday in the 200 and entered the weekend tied for 57th in Division 1 with a season-best 23.73.

She raced the 60 prelims Friday and finished ninth overall, edged for the final qualifying berth to compete in Saturday's final by a 7.441 to 7.447 margin by Long Beach State's Courtne Davis.

If one of the eight qualifiers doesn't scratch the final Saturday, then Washington's indoor season would likely come to an unexpected end, since her season-best 7.38 in the 60 doesn't rank in the top 50 in Division 1. Oregon sophomore Makenzie Dunmore advanced to the MPSF final by clocking 7.37 in the prelims and is the only Ducks' sprinter who is expected to qualify in the 60 for the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships with a season-best 7.18.

Washington won the 200 in 22.42 and placed third in the 60 in 7.20 at last year's Division 1 final.