Duenas Wins Women's Discus at Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Hope Duenas (So., Covina, CA/Covina HS) of Willamette University took first place in the women's discus at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational, hosted by Linfield College on Saturday, April 7. Duenas and several other Willamette throwers competed on Saturday after also competing on Friday at Western Oregon University.

Duenas registered the top mark in the discus at 142' 5" on her third throw of the prelims. Eight of the 14 throwers in the event, including three of eight finalists, had their best throws in the third round. Duenas won by just over 20 feet, with Tahnisha Manibusan of George Fox University earning second place at 122' 1" on her second throw of the prelims. Vakeaemanu Hunkin from Pacific Lutheran University was the only competitor to record her top throw in the finals. She placed third with a distance of 112' 11" on the first of three attempts in the finals.

Willamette's Saige Swan (So., Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) placed second in the men's hammer throw. He recorded his top distance of 134' 5" in the fifth round. Swan again improved his personal record after attaining a career-best distance of 132' 11" at the John Knight Twilight on Friday in Monmouth, Oregon. At Linfield, Aleki Sunia of Lance Community College won the hammer at 148' 11".

Swan also gained fourth place in the men's discus on Saturday. His top throw covered 124' 1". Josh Martin (So., Medford, OR/St. Mary's School) was fifth at 123' 9". Brandin Porter from University of Puget Sound took first place with a toss of 134' 8".

In the women's hammer throw, Jeidah DeZurney (Fr., Brownsville, OR/Lebanon HS) of Willamette earned eighth place out of 23 athletes with a distance of 122' 8". It was her top mark of the season, surpassing her throw of 121' 1" on Friday at Western Oregon.