MARION, Ind. – Eastern Oregon University track and field student-athlete, Robbie Haynie, finished as the national runner-up in the men’s decathlon at the 2011 NAIA Outdoor National Championships Friday.
Haynie’s point total of 6,839 was a new personal record and 77 points more than his previous record set at the Spokane Multi-Event meet. Oregon Tech’s Bryant Sentman captured the national title with a total of 7,097 points.
Haynie led after the first day and had a slim advantage after the eighth event, the pole vault. The junior won the pole vault with a mark of 16 feet, 6.75 inches. He received 926 points for the win, more points than any other athlete in the 16-man field in any event. Sentman then finished ahead of Haynie in the final two events, the javelin and 1,500 meters.
Haynie won the national indoor heptathlon title along with the national indoor pole vault title. The Nampa, Idaho native enters the pole vault as the favorite Saturday.
Dustin Cloud finished the 10 events with a total of 4,556 points. The senior ends his career at EOU valiantly finishing all the events despite a severe groin injury suffered during the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships.
Karlee Coffey crossed the line at 17:21.71 in the women's 5,000 meter semifinals. She was second in her heat and qualifies for Saturday's finals. Coffey placed second in the 10,000 meters Thursday. The freshman will be vying for her sixth All-American finish.
Ryan Booth advanced to the men's 800-meter finals after finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 1:51.64. Christine Eckstein and Alma Garcilazo each advanced in the women's 800 meters to Saturday's final. Eckstein finished with the seventh best semifinal time at 2:12.51. Garcilazo was ninth at 2:12.74.
DJ Flores came in sixth in his heat of the men's 5,000 meters with a time of 14:42.33. He qualified for Saturday's finals with the finish. Kimmy Moore finished in 13th in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, while Brittany Sims was 17th in the event. Moore’s time was 1:03.55 and Sims finished at 1:08.50.
Anne Barnett finished the shot put at 41 feet, 6.5 inches for 17th place, while Ashlee Michelson came in 20th with a mark of 40 feet, 9.5 inches. The EOU women's 4x400-meter relay team finished in fifth in their heat with a time of 3:53.41.
The Mountaineers finish the season Saturday on the final day of the national championships. A total of seven EOU athletes will be competing for titles on day three. Check EOUSports.com for live video, results, and updates.