Saint Martin’s University freshman Janess Blackburn, a Rainier High School graduate, threw 44.52 meters to win the women’s discus GNAC title, the first in program history, at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Ellensburg.
Her winning throw came on her third attempt of the day, a mark that won first overall by a 4-foot advantage over second place. Blackburn also placed sixth in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 46.84 meters.
Senior Ryan Doidge, another Rainier graduate, placed second overall in the men’s pole vault, earning All-GNAC honors after setting a school record in the event earlier in the season. Doidge cleared 4.60 meters on his second attempt and 4.75 meters on his first attempt.
Sophomore Gage Pedro, a product of Timberline High School, advanced to the finals in men’s hammer throw with a mark of 55.62 meters. He then threw 56.56 meters on his fifth throw to place third overall and earn All-GNAC honors. Pedro also placed ninth in the men’s discus with a throw of 46.02 meters.
In the women’s 1,500 meters, freshman Kekaihulali Halpern placed fourth overall with a time of 4:34.7, scoring the Saints five points. Freshman Zander Peck, a Rainier graduate, placed fifth in the men’s javelin throw with a mark of 55.84 meters.
Junior Alyssa Duncan, a graduate of Tumwater High School, placed seventh in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 10.67 meters. Fellow Tumwater graduate Reid Crumley, a freshman at Saint Martin’s, placed eighth in the men’s 400-meter hurdle prelims with a time of 57.76 seconds. In the finals, he clocked in at 58.25 seconds to place seventh overall.
Freshman LaMarcus Hinton placed eighth in the men’s long jump with a score of 6.67 meters.
Saint Martin’s placed eighth in the men’s team standings with 28 points and ninth in the women’s standings with 20 points.
