Shekhawat and Gaik Shatter School Records in Thrilling 2025 Season Opener!

SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Washington University’s Track and Field squad commenced the 2025 indoor campaign with an impressive performance at the Spokane Sports Showcase, which took place at The Podium powered by STCU on Saturday. The event, organized by Spokane Sports, gathered elite competition from various programs nationwide.

Full team results from the Spokane Sports Showcase can be found here

“This contest features the highest level of competition we will encounter indoors throughout the year, unless someone qualifies for Nationals,” stated Erin Tucker, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. “We have competitors from the Big Ten, ACC, and Mountain West, in addition to our Big Sky rivals. The Big Sky continues to grow stronger each year, and athletes who participated here recognize it’s one of the most challenging meets they’ll face this season.”

Maddy Shekhawat quickly resumed where he had left off in 2025, aiming for his own 60-meter hurdles record. He successfully surpassed it twice during the event—initially with a time of 7.79 in the prelims, followed by a remarkable 7.78 in the final, which currently stands as the 16th-best time nationally. “We aimed to break the school record again back in December,” Tucker mentioned. “Maddy undeniably has more potential—I am confident he can achieve an even faster time. I’m pleased with his outcome, but even more thrilled that he is aware of his capacity for improvement.”

Daniel Gaik made a remarkable return to action, marking his first competition since the 2021-22 season. Gaik established a new school record in the 300m, taking first place with a time of 33.95 and shattering a 38-year-old record previously held by Tony Coe. “We are on a mission,” Tucker expressed. “When I first discussed with Daniel, I conveyed what the expectations were, and he replied, ‘Coach, that’s precisely what I wanted to hear.’ Even though I haven’t coached him previously, we are already aligned, and he understands what our objectives are. This was a fantastic beginning for him.”

The field events showcased several outstanding performances, with Dyvhine Fonoti placing fifth in the weight throw at 17.46 meters (57 feet, 3.5 inches). Azaria Purdy excelled in the triple jump, finishing fifth with a jump of 12.05 meters (39 feet, 6.5 inches), propelling her to second place on EWU’s all-time list. In the long jump, Caitlin Simmons secured third place with a jump of 6.05 meters (19 feet, 10.25 inches). Suzi Woodall tied for fourth in the pole vault, clearing 3.86 meters (12 feet, 8 inches), while Jason Nwaka attained second place in the shot put with a throw of 16.49 meters (54 feet, 1.25 inches).

On the track, Kristian Phennicie reached the 60-meter final, finishing eighth with a time of 6.83 seconds. Nathan Kuhnau placed third in the 300-meter, clocking in at 35.19 seconds. In the distance events, Nattie Ruzauskas and Jenni Bissell secured second and third places, respectively, in the women’s mile. Ruzauskas crossed the finish line at 5:00.45, while Bissell followed closely behind at 5:00.52, earning her spot eighth on EWU’s all-time list. Ellie Linnenburger led the Eagles in the 3000-meter, finishing second with a time of 9:57.46, which also placed her on the all-time list. Evan Cheney rounded off the distance events with a third-place finish in the men’s mile, recording a time of 4:25.36.

“Starting the season with such elite competition is invaluable,” Tucker reflected. “After competing against some of the best in the nation, our athletes can carry those experiences into the remaining season with confidence. We observed numerous personal bests across various events, and overall, I am truly satisfied with the team’s performances.”

 

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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, comprising six for men and eight for women, both serving as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and enhancing student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and belongs to the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional institutions with similar enrollments and academic aspirations.

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