WOU Track and Field Update

Next meet: NCAA Division II National Championships, Emporia, Kansas, May 25th-27th.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH - Three Western Oregon athletes qualified in four events for the NCAA Division II National Championships, to be held May 25th-27th at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.

Bridget Johnson will compete in the heptathlon and javelin, Nini Callan will also compete in the javelin and Anthony Marin will throw the hammer.

All-American Times Two?

Bridget Johnson, a senior from Portland (David Douglas HS) will shoot for her second All-American award.

She placed fifth in the heptathlon last year, and she has the top mark among 2006 competitors going into the meet—although the top four are all very similar.

Here`s a look at that group, with their season best.

Bridget Johnson (Western Oregon), 5,053

Jessica Withrow (Abilene Christian), 5,042

TiaNiecia Mosley (Adams State), 5,019

Lori Pitz (Central Missouri State), 5,009

More Comparing:

Johnson has the fifth best mark in the javelin field, giving her another prime opportunity for All-American honors.

Her throw of 147-0 isn`t too far behind the top mark of 151-11 thrown by UC San Diego`s Briana Hinga this year.

Nina Callan (Sr, Sisters) checks in with a 2006 best of 137-8 ¾, 15th among qualifiers.

Anthony Marin (Fr.-RS, Salem/McKay HS) qualified in the hammer with a toss of 181-2 ¾, which is also 15th on the entry list.

Last Chance:

Western Oregon staged its own Last Chance Twilight meet on Friday, May 12, to afford local NCAA Division II, III and NAIA athletes one final time to attempt to qualify for their respective national championships.

WOU wasn`t able to add anyone to that list, but Sarah Howell (So., Puyallup, Wash.) improved her 800 meter time to 2:13.06, which is good for third on the all-time list at WOU.

Sabrina Freed (So., Burns) also bettered her mark in the hammer to 157-4, which now ranks ninth all-time at Western Oregon.

The Willamette University women set a McArthur Field record in the 4 x 400 meters with a time of 3:52.52, topping a 10-year mark set by George Fox (3:52.96) set in 1996.

15 Shy:

WOU`s women won a meet-best seven events, but still came up just 15 points short of defending its title at the 2006 Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field championships, held at McArthur Field on Saturday (May 6).

Seattle Pacific ended WOU`s run of three straight titles, out-pointing the Wolves 203-188.

Central Washington finished third with 150 points.

CWU won the men`s title by nearly 40 points, topping defending champion Western Washington 189-150.

The Wolves were third with 107.

GNAC Champs:

WOU`s eight who climbed the GNAC champion podium are listed here.

Lee Clarkson, 400 hurdles (55.11)

Keyanna Jenkins, 100 meters (12.44)

Sarah Howell, 800 meters (2:17.15)

Jennie Rummell, 400 hurdles (1:03.32)

Sarajane Rosenberg, long jump (17-5 ½)

Chevonna Lynch, shot put (43-0 ½)

Bridget Johnson, 100 hurdles (15.03)

Bridget Johnson, heptathlon (5,053 points)

The coach: Mike Johnson is in his third season of leading the WOU track and field program, and he is also the school`s head cross country coach.

Johnson's career includes tenures at Highline Community College (1972-74), Eastern Washington University (1974-76), University of Portland (1976-86), University of Washington (1986-98), and Boise Sate (1998-2000).

Johnson's teams won two PAC-10 Cross Country Championships, seven West Coast Conference Championships and now, four GNAC crowns.

The Seattle native has been named PAC-10 Coach of the Year three times, NCAA Western Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year four times, GNAC Coach of the Year on four occasions and also NAIA Coach of the Year.

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