MARION, Ind. – Eastern Oregon University track and field student-athlete, Karlee Coffey, finished as the national runner-up in the women's 10,000 meters at the NAIA Outdoor National Championship Thursday.
Coffey came into the event as the third seed with a time of 35:07.83, but crossed the line at 35:02.02. The new time broke her previous school record and is the sophomore's fifth All-American finish. She was the national runner-up at this year's NAIA Cross Country National Championships and the indoor 3,000-meter national champion as well.
Coffey finished sixth in the 10,000 meters last season at the national championships as an All-American. Her 2010 time was 36:44.45. Obsie Birru of Grand View defended her national title this year with a time of 34:49.42. The top four times from this year's race were faster than Birru's time last season. Coffey, a La Grande, Ore. native, will run in the 5,000 meters Friday.
Robbie Haynie takes a slim lead into the final day in the decathlon. Haynie tied for second in the first event, the 100 meters, with a time of 11.55 seconds. The junior then got second in the long jump with a top mark of 21 feet, 10.75 inches. Haynie headed into the shot put sitting in second and had top toss of 41 feet, one inch to take the overall lead. He would hold the lead after winning the high jump with a leap of six feet, seven inches, and then ran a personal record in the 400 meters at 52.38 seconds to finish second in his heat and seventh overall in that event. Haynie's point total was 3,637, about 100 points ahead of his first day total at the Spokane Multis where he qualified for the national championships.
Dustin Cloud is struggling with the groin injury that plagued him at the conference championships, but is determined to finish the ten-event competition.
Ryan Booth cruised to a first place finish in his heat of the 800 meters. The junior crossed the line at 1:53.02, which is second place heading into the semifinals.
Kimmy Moore and Brittany Sims each advanced in the women's 400-meter hurdles. Moore's time was 1:04.70 in 12th and Sims had a time of 1:03.96 which was 16th.
Anne Barnett hit a personal record in the women's hammer throw. The senior came into the event seeded 23rd and finished 14th with a top mark of 157 feet, one inch. Barnett later came back in wet, blustery conditions to finish ninth in the javelin with a top throw of 130 feet. She finished ninth and was only five inches out of scoring.
Isaac Updike finished seventh in his heat of the steeplechase with a time of 9:25.05. Zach Seely came in 10th with a time of 9:44.42. The top five times of each heat advance to the finals along with the next four best times. Forrest Lumpry finished ninth in heat two and 17th overall with a time of 9:37.52. Updike did qualify for the final with the 12th best semifinal time. He is one of two freshman in the finals.
Justin Dean and Terry Johnsen completed the day for the Mountaineers in the men's 10,000 meters. Dean came in 53rd with a time of 33:22.65 and Johnsen was 31st with a time of 31:46.44.
After rainy and windy conditions on day one, Eastern Oregon returns to action on Friday beginning with the completion of the decathlon in the morning. Live video, results, and updates will all be available on EOUSports.com.