FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The Whitworth University men and women grabbed the team lead after the first day of competition Friday at the Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships hosted by Pacific University at Lincoln Park Stadium. Click here for Friday's results. The defending champion Pirate men won three events on Friday and scored highly in two others to overcome a 20-point deficit to Linfield entering the day and grab a 13-point lead over the Wildcats. The Pirate women finished first and second in the discus, then added a 2-3 finish in the 10,000 meters to open up a seven-point lead over Willamette. It is the first time the Pirate women have led after the first day since winning the conference title in 2001. Ron Whitley and Joey VanHoomissen finished 1-3 in the discus. Whitley tossed the discus 152'-7", while VanHoomissen's mark was 149'-9".
Cody Stelzer, a junior, won the high jump for the third straight season by clearing 6'-7". He also took third in the long jump with a distance of 22'-3.75". Nick Gallagher pulled away to win the 10,000 meters in 30:45.93 and Aaron Jenkins finished fourth in the event in 32:25.41. Also on the track Tyler Dudley (9:40.02) and Jeff Forsyth (9:46.72) went 3-4 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. In the only other men's scoring event of the day, Whitworth had five scorers in the Javelin. Kory Kemp, Alex Hymel and John McCormack finished 3-4-5. Whitworth had entered the day 20 points behind Linfield after last week's decathlon. But after the first full day of competition, the men's team scores are: Whitworth 79, Linfield 66, Willamette 59, George Fox 33, Puget Sound 13, Pacific Lutheran 12, Lewis & Clark 11.
Kelly Bradley and Erica Cox finished first and second, respectively, in the discus. Both cleared 114 feet. Alyssa Thompson went 17'-4" to take fifth in the long jump. Tonya Turner (38:18.25) and Jo E. Mayer (38:58.21) went 2-3, respectively, in the 10,000 meters. The Pirates also placed three runners among the top six in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Kathryn Williams was third, Emily Morehouse was fifth and Jenna Cunningham placed sixth. The last time the Pirate women held the first day's lead was in 2001, the last time Whitworth won the conference title. Since then Willamette has taken seven straight championships. The women's team scores following last week's heptathlon and today are: Whitworth 62, Willamette 55, Linfield 43, George Fox 39, Puget Sound 22, Lewis & Clark 19, Pacific 17, Pacific Lutheran 16. The meet will conclude on Saturday. Events will get underway at 10:00 a.m. |
