Mail Tribune Sports - Robertson, Helgerson gain NAIA qualifying marks

Document text

Robertson, Helgerson gain NAIA qualifying marks MONMOUTH -- Two more Southern Oregon athletes qualified for the NAIA national meet Saturday as the Raiders took part in the 20-team Western Intercollegiate track and field meet. Freshman Nicole Robertson and sophomore Janae Helgerson topped NAIA qualifying standards at McArthur Field on the Western Oregon campus. Robertson remained unbeaten this spring, whirling the discus a career-best 139 feet, 11 inches. Her previous best was 138-4 a week earlier in Eugene. Robertson's effort easily topped the previous meet record of 135-11 by Saran Patillo of Willamette in 1996. Helgerson was second in the javelin with a 144-5 toss. She was third in the nation last year at 158-5. Sophomore Nicole Irons was fourth in the pole vault at 9-10. Freshman Laura Lincoln clipped 10.5 seconds off her previous best, lowering her 400-meter hurdles time to 1:07.02 -- four seconds off the NAIA qualifying mark. She was fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.82) against a strong head wind. In men's competition, Mat Davis won 400 meters in a meet-record 49.43. The previous mark was 49.58 by Chris McIntosh of Western Oregon in 1998. Davis was second in the 200 at 22.59. Aaron Buckendorf of Chemeketa Community College in Salem was timed in 22.56 in a separate heat. Hammer thrower Bob Metcalf turned in a 167-0 effort, 18 inches short of the NAIA standard. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune   Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.