Complete Results

TACOMA, Wash. - Western Washington University's Katie Reichert (Jr., Longview/Kelso) had an NCAA Division II automatic national qualifying mark in the women's javelin as the Vikings opened their outdoor track and field season at the University of Puget Sound five-way meet on Saturday, March 7, at Baker Stadium on the UPS campus.

Reichert, who placed second at nationals last year - one inch behind teammate Bethany Drake, had a throw of 159-2 on her third attempt in the prelims. Two WWU men's javelin throwers had provisional national qualifying efforts. Slater Hirst (Sr., Shoreline/Kings) placed second with a mark of 205-0 and John Haskin (Jr., Bainbridge Island) was third at 201-0. Hirst finished fourth and Haskin eighth at nationals last spring.

"It was a good opening competition for us," said WWU head coach Pee Wee Halsell (28th year). "We had the one automatic, two provisionals and a lot of times and marks close to the provisional standard ... The weather certainly helped."

A total of 10 Vikings were event winners. Besides Reichert, they included Alexandra Laiblin (Fr., Oak Harbor) in the women's 10,000 (39:06.12), Matt Lutz (Jr., Bremerton/Olympic) in the men's 3,000 steeplechase (9:24.73), Ryan Macdonald (Sr., Bellingham/Sehome) in the men's discus (159-6), Rudy Mataya (Fr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) in the men's long jump (21-2 1/2), Travis Milbrandt (Jr., Longview/Mark Morris) in the men's 110 hurdles (14.71), Haley O'Connor (Sr., Sammamish/Eastlake) in the women's 1,500 (4:37.26), Anna Paradee (Fr., Tacoma/Decatur) in the women's pole vault (11-5 3/4), Shawna Troupe (So., Kelso) in the women's 400 (59.10), and Katelyn Wright (Jr., Washougal) in the women's high jump (5-1 3/4).

The times of O'Connor in the 1,500, Lutz in the 3,000 steeplechase and Milbrandt in the 110 hurdles were meet records as was Macdonald's mark in the discus.

Troupe also placed second in the 1,500 (4:44.47) and ran a leg on the 4x400 relay (4:07.42) that finished third.

Having performances just off the provisional standard for WWU were J.T. Konrad (Fr., Mead/Mount Spokane), who was runner-up in the men's pole vault at 15-5, Lutz in the steeplechase and O'Connor in the 1,500.

WWU next competes at the Rose City Preview on March 21 at Gresham, Ore.