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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

10 Cougars advance to NCAA nationals

EUGENE, Ore. - Washington State University’s Jeshua Anderson won the 400-meter hurdles for a second straight year and Justin Woods followed with another title 15 minutes later as 10 Cougars turned in national qualifying efforts Saturday at the NCAA West Regional track and field meet.

And another local athlete pulled off a minor upset – Shadle Park graduate Rich Nelson of Brigham Young winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase by more than five seconds in 8 minutes, 47.98 seconds, after entering the competition with the sixth-best mark.

Southern California’s men and Arizona State’s women knocked off Pac-10 champion Oregon for the team titles, but the Cougar men made a big splash by taking third – their highest regional finish.

Slowed by a balking hamstring, Anderson ran one of his slowest times of the season – 50.31 – but was still an easy winner, with teammate Barry Leavitt running a season best of 50.97 in fourth.

The top five individual placers and top three relay teams advance to nationals in two weeks in Eugene.

Woods, second in the 100 earlier in the day in 10.30, blasted a 20.90 to win the 200, with teammate Marlon Murray also qualifying in both events.

Other Cougars advancing to nationals were Lisa Egami in the 1,500 (third place), Robert Williams in the high hurdles (fourth place) and Sam Ahlbeck in the steeple, Matt Lamb in the discus and Marissa Tschida in the javelin (all fifth place). Trent Arrivey placed fifth in the high jump Friday.

Idaho will be sending one athlete to nationals – hammer thrower James Rogan, who took third with a lifetime best of 212-10.