Phillips loses by decision

Spokane’s Elizabeth Phillips lost a split decision to Valerie Letourneau in a preliminary women’s bantamweight bout at UFC 174 in Vancouver, British Columbia on Saturday.

Phillips (4-2, 0-1 UFC) pummeled her opponent, but came up on the short end of the decision. All three judges scored the fight 29-28, but two of them had Letourneau (6-3, 1-0) winning by that margin.

Phillips got her licks in, including a stiff right hand blow that raised noticeable swelling on Letourneau’s cheek. However, Letourneau’s stamina and experience served her well through the late rounds.

Soccer

The Spokane Shadow (4-2-1) travel to Bellingham today to take on the Hammers (5-3-1), who lead the Evergreen Premier League.

The match at Civic Stadium starts at 3 p.m.

The Shadow sport a 3-0-1 record on the road this season. They trail the Hammers by three points at the halfway point in the season.

Bellingham won the previous meeting between the two teams – edging Spokane 2-1 in the season opener.

The Hammers are coming off a lopsided 8-2 home win over Yakima United last week in which Tyler Bjork scored six goals – all in the first half.

Track and field

Kurt Roberts and Jordan Clarke both blasted through the 70-foot barrier in the shot put to cap the Iron Wood/Ben Plucknett Invitational throwers meet Saturday near Rathdrum.

The USATF developmental competition was staged at Bart Templeman’s throwing facility, and also saw a victory in the discus by former Idaho All-American Russ Winger.

Roberts came up with the fourth-best outdoor mark in the world this spring with a heave of 70 feet, 3 inches on his second attempt. Clarke, a former Arizona State thrower, followed it with a lifetime best 70-1 — his first time over 70 and the No. 6 world mark this year.

Winger needed a last-throw spin of 202-7 to beat the top-ranked American of the last two years and 2012 Olympian, Lance Brooks, who threw 202-0.

Another 2012 Olympian, Kibwe Johnson, won a spirited hammer throw competition over Chris Cralle with a fifth-round throw of 245-7 — the last of six times the lead changed hands. Cralle reached 241-9.

• Ferris graduate Carson Fuller, a sophomore throwing for the University of Washington, finished 20th in the men’s javelin, on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene.

Fuller threw the javelin 205 feet, 1 inch.

Sam Crouser of Oregon won the event with a heave of 252-7.

Huskies teammate Quinn Hale placed fifth in the event.