2009-04-30 10:44
Tyler Pell
Freshman Kevin Godfrey led the charge for the Titans at the NWAACC Multi-Event championships on Tuesday, April 28. Godfrey didn't win any individual events at the meet, but his well-rounded performance earned him fourth place and scored LCC five points at the NWAACC Championship. Photo courtesy of JON FUCCILO/The Advocate
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Angelyn Salyer, who finished in 10th place, flys through the air while competing in the triple jump. Photo courtesy of JON FUCCILO/The Advocate
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Annie Hayward finished in 11th place at the NWAACC Multi-event Championships at Mt. Hood Community College. Photo courtesy of JON FUCCILO/The Advocate
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The track and field season was officially kicked into high gear on Monday, April 27, with NWAACC multi-event championships in Gresham, Ore.
Although the actual NWAACC championship won't be held until May 21, in Spokane, Wash., the decathlon and heptathlon events are held first so athletes could compete in their individual events in May.
The Titans didn't have anyone finish in the top three, but the LCC men came away with 13 points for the team, more than any other school.
"We hoped to score 15 points, but the meet was much stronger this year," Head Track Coach Grady O'Connor said. "We competed hard; some other guys from other leagues did really well. I'm still happy with the way we finished."
Treasure Valley Community College's Philip Noble took first with 6622 points, scoring Treasure Valley its only 10 points of the meet.
Kevin Godfrey led the way for the Titan decathletes with 6262. His fourth place finish scored LCC eight points.
Bruce Burbank finished fifth with 6251 points, J.J. Rosenburg finished sixth and Sean Turner came in eighth for LCC.
The Titans' well-rounded effort should provide a boost when the NWAACC championships begin three weeks from now. LCC finished second to Spokane in last year's NWAACC Championship, so the Titans 13-8 lead over Spokane could prove to be the difference.
By scoring 6262, Kevin Godfrey qualified for Junior Nationals, which will be held this summer at Hayward Field.
The women's team was a different story for LCC.
"We almost didn't send anyone on the women's side, but two weeks ago we threw together some qualifiers and we sent Annie Hayward and Angelyn Salyer," O'Connor said.
Salyer and Hayward, who were battling illnesses, finished tenth and eleventh at the meet respectively. Salyer took first in the 800-meter run.
"It wasn't their natural event but they gave great effort. They competed hard, and that's all we could ask," O'Connor said.
Crystal Sims of Mt. Hood took first in the heptathlon with 4,305 points.
Before the NWAACC Championships, LCC will compete in the Southern Region Championships at Cottage Grove High School on Saturday, May 9.
LCC, which has dominated the meet in recent years, will compete against Clark College, Clackamas Community College, Mt. Hood Community College and Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Before the Multi-Event Championships, the Titans sent athletes to the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field on Friday, April 24.
The Titans competed in front of an Oregon Relays meet record crowd of 6,901 at Hayward Field.
"Even the Division 1 kids aren't used to that many people cheering for them. Hayward Field is special, whether you're a senior from one of these D1 schools or a high school senior, you can kind of get tight and not do your thing," O'Connor said.
LCC athletes still performed well, and put up some impressive marks.
Javelin thrower Tauni Powell competed in the top section and finished in fifth place for LCC.
"Tauni was in the top section, throwing against the top throwers in the country. Not her personal best, but in a high-powered meet its pretty good," O'Connor said.
Scott Elliot took first in his heat in the pole vault, with a 15'7" vault.
Bryan Harper ran a personal best in the 400-meter dash and placed second in his heat. Harper is now the NWAACC leader in the event with a 48.95 time.
The men's 4x400 relay team placed second in its heat behind Wichita State at 3:18.82.
Diani Batson took seventh in the women's 200-meters with a 26.68 time.
