March 17, 2007

USC’s Midles Set PLU Field Record in Men’s Hammer Throw

Meet Results

TACOMA, Wash. – Competing for the first time as a collegian in his home state, University of Southern California senior Adam Midles set a PLU field record in the men’s hammer with a throw of 225-2. Midles’ performance provided the highlight to the PLU Invitational track & field meet held Saturday afternoon at the PLU track.

Midles, a graduate of Capital High School in Olympia, beat his previous personal best of 221-7 set last Saturday, March 10, at the Ben Brown Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton at Mount San Antonio College. Midles beat a pair of University of Washington throwers, including his brother Zack. The Huskies’ Martin Bingisser finished second with a throw of 205-10, followed by Zack Midles with a 181-7 mark.

PLU's James Burnett leans at the line to beat a pair of Alaska-Anchorage sprinters in the men's 100-meter dash. (Jordan Hartman photo)

Pacific Lutheran had a pair of winners on the men’s side. Junior James Burnett won the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.22, and sophomore Doug Rickabaugh had a 165-5 winning mark in the javelin.

Another highlight came from Saint Martin’s John Riak, who chased down David Kiplagat and Paul Rottich of Alaska-Anchorage to win the 1500-meter run in a time of 4:01.44. Kiplagat and Rottich, who ran at the front for virtually the entire race, finished second and third with times of 4:02.12 and 4:02.64.

Western Washington’s Ben Elder won the shot put with a 41-10 effort, and also finished on top in the discus with a throw of 129-10.

On the women’s side, Mary Pearce from Alaska-Anchorage won the 100 in a time of 12.58 and came back to win the 200 in 25.31. Pearce also anchored Anchorage’s winning 400-meter relay team, which clocked 49.85. Lindsay Lunderman from Western Washington was a double-event winner, taking the 100 hurdles in 15.26 and the 400 hurdles in a time of 1:05.71.

PLU freshman Katie Choate and sophomore Michele Hegg finished first and second in the women’s 1500-meter run, clocking 4:58.10 and 4:59.63, respectively. Senior Megan Wochnick started her outdoor season by winning the women's hammer throw with a NCAA national meet provisional qualifying mark of 153-2. Lute freshman Karen Hatch took the javelin with a toss of 121-4.

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