FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University men’s track and field team saw four members hit the NAIA “A” standard and qualify for the 2014 NAIA Outdoor National Championships on day one of the Pacific Twilight and OSU High Performance Meets.
Lucas Updike was the first Mountaineer to qualify for NAIA Outdoor National Champions as he hit the NAIA “A” standard in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Updike won the race with a time of 9:17.57, which was 36 seconds in front of second place. Updike’s time of 9:17.57 is his fastest time this season by 10 seconds.
Brian Wickham continues to improve on his distance in the hammer throw. On his fourth throw of the event, Wickham threw his longest throw of the season by throwing 55.66 meters (182-07), which hit the NAIA “A” standard. His distance is the eighth best in the NAIA this season. Wickham won the event by six inches over Markus Sanders of Southern Oregon.
The third member of the EOU Track and Field team to hit the NAIA “A” standard was Hans Roelle. Roelle, who was competing that the OSU High Performance meet, clocked a time of 1:51.30 in the 800 meter run to finish ninth. He was the second fastest NAIA athlete in the field and clocked the fifth fastest 800 meter time in the NAIA.
In the men’s 1500 meter run at OSU High Performance meet, Damion Flores finished fourth in the event with a time of 3:48.67. His time hit the NAIA “A” standard and broke Eastern Oregon’s school record, which he set in 2011.
The Mountaineers return tomorrow when they take part in day two of the Pacific Twilight. Field events start at 10 a.m. with the first runner event starting at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.