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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us May 31, 2005 Johnston caps stellar week for SOU track Freshman pole vaulter captures team’s second national title in two days; team places sixth Wire reports LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Robbie Johnston became Southern Oregon’s ninth individual national champion — and second in two days — in men’s track and field Saturday at the NAIA Championships. Johnston Johnston, the national leader heading into the pole vault competition, highlighted one of the finest days in Raider track history when he won his specialty with a vault of 17-feet, 3/4-inch. Five SOU athletes achieved All-America status by placing in the top six in their events Saturday. One was Scott Myers, who won the shot put on Friday and placed second in the discus a day later. Other Raiders to shine at nationals Saturday were Ryan Musselman, third in the pole vault; Trevor Palmer, fourth in the 1,500 meters; and Nick Hansen, sixth in the triple jump. SOU scored 42 team points for sixth place, matching the best placing in school history. It was previously done in 1988. “I couldn’t be happier,” said SOU coach Mike Jones. “Everybody just did great. It was really exciting, just a great showing by our team.” Johnston, who won the high school state championship while at Eagle Point last spring, entered the meet with a best of 17-4 1/2 . While he was waiting to start the competition, Musselman, a sophomore from Hidden Valley, was fast at it. Musselman entered the competition at 15-1 and cleared every height he tried on his first attempt, topping out at a personal-best 16-4 3/4 . When Johnston joined the fray at 16-0, he missed on his first attempt. Musselman was leading and, Jones, thought to himself, “He could win this thing.” But Johnston quickly took command. “They fed off each other,” said Jones. Johnston beat out runner-up Mark Hollis of Olivet Nazarene, who cleared 16-8 3/4 . Johnston attempted to clear 17-6 1/2 . “The last one was close, just not quite enough,” said Jones. Musselman, whose previous best was 16-0, tried but missed 16-8. Myers, a junior, wasn’t thrilled with his shot put effort the day before, winning with a 55-11 1/4 mark that was short of his best. But the discus more than made up for it. “You pretty much couldn’t write a movie better than this,” said the North Medford High alum. Myers uncorked his best throw on his final attempt, jumping from seventh to second with a season-best mark of 169-7. “I totally got into the zone,” said Myers. “After that happened, I couldn’t believe I did it. The competitive side of me took over when I got in the ring. I said to myself, this is my last throw, don’t hold anything back. Whatever happens, happens. “This is probably the happiest I’ve ever been getting second place. You want your best mark at the end of the year, and to throw it on the last throw of the year … I’m still on a high from it.” Floyd Turner of Iowa Wesleyan won with a mark of 184-2. Palmer, who starred at Crater High, ran the 1,500 in 3:51.81, less than two seconds off his school record. He became the school’s first All-American in the metric mile. The winner was Corey Duquette of Virginia Intermont, who was timed in 3:49.45. Hansen, a senior who placed eighth last year, just barely made the finals after fouling on two of his three qualifying jumps. “He just ran through on the third one,” said Jones. “He looked like he was totally disappointed. He turned something disastrous into something good. It was a good way to end his senior year.” In the finals, he got off a jump of 47-7 3/4 , good for sixth place. The winner, Jamie Gordon of Lindsey Wilson, sailed 51-7. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams