Benson, Windle Highlight Strong Performances in Grasham

 

 

4.26.08

 

GRESHAM, Ore. - Leading the charge for EOU were Doug Benson and Stephanie Windle, who each hit NAIA auto qualifying marks in their respective events, while running to second place finishes.

 

Windle, running in the first track event of the day for EOU, surpassed the NAIA auto standard by just over four seconds and missed her own school record by a little less than two seconds. Windle was joined by Freshman Christy Pletan in third place with a very fine debut race. Platen’s race puts her fourth on the EOU all time list for the steeplechase.

 

Benson’s run came shortly after the steeple in a rather impressive manner. Running in about 5th place at 400 meters, Benson moved to the front and took charge of the race, then ended with a fast finish to barley loose a to a post collegiate runner. Benson also lowered his PR by three seconds and finished just over one second under the NAIA auto time. Benson’s time is the fourth fastest in school history.

 

In other distance action, Marcella Bosch cruised to an easy win tin the 5,000 meter run and Troy Blackburn ran an outstanding race for a win in the Steeplechase and record a huge season’s best while hitting an NAIA provisional mark as well. Troy was followed 10 seconds later by Cam Starner in second place. Justin Dean ran to a second place finish in the Men’s 5,000 meter run.

 

Elsewhere on the track, three sport athlete Grace DeBoodt had a busy, successful day, running to a 2nd place finish in the 400 meter run and running a strong 200 meter race to finish 7th, later tacking on a NAIA provisional mark with her fourth place finish in the Javelin.

 

In the hurdles Chelsee Harmon and Kasie Gillespie led the way for the women in third and fourth place respectively. Adam Miller led the way for the men with his third place finish in his first outing of the year.. In the 100 and 110 meter High Hurdle races, Lucas Ohmes ran to a strong second place finish.

 

Rounding out the day for the running events were season best times for both genders in the 4 x 400 meter relay. The third place women’s squad consisted of Dani Murphy, Harmon, Melisa Abesa and Gillespie. For the men, the second place squad consisted of Andrew Wise, Adam Goulet, Nathan Schmidt and Miller.

 

In the field events, EOU was lead by DeBoodt’s provisional mark in the Javelin for the throws and Peter Fry’s win, and PR in the Long Jump. Cayla Weissert jumped to a second place finish in the Pole Vault and Quinten Baxter threw a PR in the Shot put to place 5th overall.

 

In the Discus, all three EOU women (Tiffany Ulmer, Becky Unger and Kayla Burrus) threw season’s best marks.  Ulmer had a busy day as she threw all four implements; shot, discus, hammer and javelin. In the hammer, EOU was led by Trisha Harshberger in third and Quinten Baxter in fourth. Quinten was followed by Andy Munsy in fifth.

 

In the jumps, Justus Gray finished fourth in the High Jump.. Ohmes rounded out a busy day with a pair of fourth place finishes in the Long Jump and Pole Vault, the later coming just minutes after completing the 400 hurdles. Lucas was followed closely in the Long Jump by Truman in fifth place.

 

With today’s qualifiers the total number of EOU NAIA qualifiers currently stands at three women with auto marks (Gillespie is currently ranked 4th nationally in the Heptathlon an event they take 16 competitors to the national meet) and three Provisional marks.

 

On the men’s side the total stands at three auto’s (with both Ohmes and Chris Hoppie ranked in the top 4 nationally in the Decathlon where, like the women’s heptathlon, the top 16 qualify for Nationals) and 7 provisional marks.

 

Next up fro EOU is the Bronco Twilight at Boise State on Friday May 2nd, where most of the athletes will compete in fewer events as a tune up for the Conference Meet the following week back in Gresham at Mt. Hood CC.

 

 

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