Collins Improves Provisional Qualifying Throw in Hammer at West Coast Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Steven Collins (Sr., Zillah, WA/Zillah HS) from Willamette University improved his NCAA Division III provisional qualifying mark in the hammer throw at the West Coast Invitational on Thursday, May 12 at the Charles Bowles Track. Collins registered a personal record toss of 179' 3" to surpass his previous career-best and NCAA provisional throw of 177' 10", set at the 2011 NWC Championships.

The second day of the heptathlon and the field events were held on Thursday. The running events will be held on Saturday, May 14, starting at 7 p.m. (PDT).

David Oppat (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) of Willamette won the shot put with a toss of 52' 1.25". His throw met the NCAA provisional standard, but did not exceed his top throw of the season, a personal record distance of 53' 3.75" at the Mount Hood Track and Field Festival on May 7.

Josh Clothier (Sr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) of WU placed second in the shot put with a distance of 49' 1".

Several throwers for the Bearcats joined Collins in achieving personal record marks at the West Coast Invitational.

In the hammer competition, Max Faulhaber (So., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) set a career-best distance of 158' 10" to finish in second place behind Collins. Faulhaber's previous best was 152' 6" at the 2011 NWC Championships.

Oppat registered a personal record in the discus throw, while winning the event with a toss of 156' 2". His previous top distance was 154' 0" at the Pacific Twilight in 2010.

Evin Colignon (Sr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) attained a career mark with a javelin throw of 181' 9", topping his existing mark of 173' 5", set during the decathlon at the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic in 2010. Colignon took second place at the West Coast Invitational behind a toss of 195' 8" by Jon Udlock from George Fox University.

For the WU women's team, Ginny Hodges (So., San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep) earned a personal record in the javelin. Her top throw covered 120' 10", breaking her old record of 116' 5", which she earned earlier this season at the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic.

Taylor Ottomano (Fr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) of Willamette achieved a distance of 34' 0.75" in the triple jump to earn a mark within 3.25" of her personal record. Ottomano's top triple jump for the Bearcats so far was 34' 4" at the 2011 NWC Championships.

Other top performances during the field events:

Sarah Holt, competing unattached, won the women's hammer throw with a toss of 209'3".

Matt Winterer from the University of Portland cleared 6' 8" to win the men's high jump.

Two George Fox athletes passed the 18-foot mark in the women's long jump. Emily Davison took first place at 18' 3.75" and Angie Miller finished second at 18' 1.75".