OREM, Utah – Ariel Johnson (Moscow, Idaho), Adam Kollgaard (Kent, Wash.) and Brandan Haggarty (Missoula, Mont.) all scored for Seattle University’s first points on the opening day of the 2011 dGreat West Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Utah Valley's Hal Wing Track & Field on Thursday.
“Brandan did a great job of bringing his A game in the hammer today,” said head coach Trisha Steidl. “He looked confident stepping into the ring and I believe this is just the start of great things to come for him.”
Johnson cleared 3.15 meters (10-4) in the pole vault to end up fifth place for four points. Haggarty’s toss in the hammer throw of 43.95 meters (144-2.25) placed him sixth for three points for the Seattle U men and also set a new school record. Kollgaard’s time of 34:00.85 in the 10,000 meter run also earned three points.
Bo Anderson (Tacoma, Wash.) also competed in the hammer throw, making the finals with a personal best distance of 41.44 (135-11.50), which put him just out of scoring position in ninth.
Competing in the heptathlon, Kaytie Bateman (Chehalis, Wash.) is currently in eighth place after competing in the 100 meter hurdles with a personal best time of 16.97, a personal best 200 meter dash time of 27.66, clearing the high jump height of 1.43m, and shot put with a distance of 8.07 meters. She currently holds 2206 points.
In the women’s 10,000 meter run, Lauren Hammerle (Seattle, Wash.) finished with a time of 41.45.30, and Bethany Richards (Shoreline, Wash.) and Sara Blakely (Spokane, Wash.) both competed in the hammer throw trials with distances of 35.90 meters (117-9.5) and 22.71 meters (74-6), respectively.
After three events, South Dakota leads the women with 54 points, and Texas-Pan American is in the lead for the men with 16 points. Seattle University’s women are currently fifth with four points, and the men are in seventh place with six points.
The Championships will continue Friday morning at 9 a.m.