PULLMAN, Wash. – Jax Thoirs and Aaron Nelson both won at the Mooberry Track Complex just two weeks ago, helping the Husky men’s track team to a win in the Dual Meet against Washington State. Returning to Pullman, Thoirs and Nelson were victorious once again, only this time it came against the entire Pac-12 conference. Thoirs flew to a thrilling win in the pole vault, and then Nelson charged to a convincing win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, giving the Dawgs a great start to the two-day conference meet, hosted by Washington State for the first time since 2002.

The Huskies could be said to dominate the Pac-12 men’s steeplechase and pole vault when the Cougars are the hosts. Back in 2002, the last time the meet was here, Washington’s Mike Hill won the steeplechase and Brad Walker won the pole vault. Nelson’s win was the first in the steeple since Hill’s win, however Thoirs adds to a run of four titles in the past six years for Husky men’s vaulters.

The wins, boosted by a big point total in the men’s javelin where Quinn Hale was runner-up, put the Husky men in second-place after day one. Oregon leads with 70.25 with Washington second with 40.25 points ahead of Arizona’s 30 and USC’s 29 points. The Husky women had 12 points on the day to sit 10th overall, with Oregon leading on the women’s side as well with 64.