Three Eagles earn All-Big Sky honors by finishing in the top three on the first day of the Big Sky Championships in Missoula

Eastern Washington University freshman Michelle Coombs set a new meet record en route to winning the javelin competition at the 2009 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday (May 15) in Missoula, Mont. The meet concludes on Saturday (May 16).

In team scoring after Friday's events, Eastern's women are currently in sixth place with 20 points and the men are eighth with eight points. Northern Arizona leads the men's competition with 57 points and Montana State leads for the women with 65 points.

Coombs had a career-best throw of 163-1 to win the javelin and set a new Big Sky meet record. That mark ranks her third in school history as she broke the previous meet record of 162-4 set by Kim Berg of Montana State in 2007.

"Being a conference champion hasn't really sunk in yet," said Coombs after winning the title. "I am happy about the personal best."

Coombs, a freshman from Hermiston, Ore., had already qualified for the NCAA West Regionals earlier this season. Teammate Amanda Peterson finished third at the Big Sky Championships with a mark of 149-3 as she was one of three Eagles to earn All-Big Sky honors with a top three finish.

The top finisher Friday for the men was Paul Limpf, who was third in the 10,000 meters with a time of 30:53.95. His career-best time of 29:45.89 came earlier this season to break a 31 year-old school record.

Also for the men, Armand Hopkins finished seventh in the long jump with a mark 22-4 1/2.

In the women's long jump, Shene Davis finished eighth with a mark of 18-3 3/4. Her career-best mark of 18-8 was set earlier this year to rank sixth in school history. Krystal Deyo, who holds the school record with an effort of 19-8 1/4 on May 1, finished ninth with a disappointing performance of 18-3.

Freshman Brianna Okoro finished sixth in the high jump with a mark of 5-3. She also finished 14th in the long jump with a mark of 17-5 1/2.

Five Eagles advanced to Saturday's finals with performances in Friday's preliminaries.

Freshman Brad Wall qualified in the 400 meters with a time of 47.50. That time was third-fastest in the prelims and ranks him fifth in school history. Teammate Armon Blackwell qualified for the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.06 to finish as seventh-fastest in the prelims.

In the women's 100 meters, both Deyo and Davis qualified for the finals on Saturday. Deyo had the second-fastest time at 12.07, with her career-best time of 11.90 ranking her fourth in school history. Davis was the eighth-fastest qualifier with a time of 12.36.

The fifth advancer was Ashley Stabl in the 400-meter hurdles. Her time of 1:02.99 was the fifth-fastest in the prelims.

Men's Results on Friday:
Hammer -153-5 (14th) - Cody Irby - Otis Orchards, Wash. (East Valley HS ‘05)
Hammer - 151-10 (6th) - David Howard - Otis Orchards, Wash. (East Valley HS ‘05)
Long Jump - 22-3 (11th) - Kurt Williams - Snohomish, Wash. (Snohomish HS '06 & CC of Spokane)
Long Jump - 22-3 3/4 (9th)- Levi Knutson - Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS '06)
Long Jump - 22-4 1/2 (7th) - Armand Hopkins - Seattle, Wash. (Renton HS '05)
10,000m - 30:53.95 (3rd) - Paul Limpf - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '05)
10,000m - 34:1765 (14th) - Bowe Ebding - Walla Walla, Wash. (DeSales HS '07)
10,000m - 32:26.72 (12th) - Kyle King - Coupeville, Wash. (Coupeville HS '08)
110 Hurdles Prelims - 15.06 (7th, advances to finals) - Armon Blackwell - Tacoma, Wash. (Clover Pack HS '06)
400m Prelims - 47.50 (3rd, advances to finals) - Brad Wall - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen-Vancouver '08)
400 Hurdles Prelims - 56.06 (17th, didn't advance) - Armon Blackwell - Tacoma, Wash. (Clover Pack HS '06)
400 Hurdles Prelims - 54.96 (13th, didn't advance) - Nick Mundell - Snohomish, Wash. (Snohomish HS '06)
400 Hurdles Prelims - 55.24 (15th, didn't advance) - Kersee Lind - Hermiston, Ore. (Hermiston HS '07)
Discus - 148-11 (12th) - David Howard - Spokane, Wash. (East Valley HS '05 & CC of Spokane)
 

Women's Results on Friday:
3,000 Steeplechase - 11:33.32 (11th)- Amber Nickelson - Lake Stevens, Wash. (Lake Stevens HS '04)
Javelin - 149-3 (3rd) - Amanda Peterson - Gig Harbor, Wash. (Peninsula HS '07)
Javelin - 163-1 (CHAMPION) - Michelle Coombs - Hermiston, Ore. (Hermiston HS '08)
Javelin - 115-5 (11th) - Jessica Thomas - Auburn, Wash. (Auburn Riverside HS '05)
Pole Vault - No Height- Chelsi Friese - Lebam, Wash. (Willapa Valley HS '07)
Shot Put - 41-11 1/2 (13th) - Mari Bingham - Tacoma, Wash. (Mt. Tahoma HS '07)
High Jump - No Height - Irene Lowe - Yelm, Wash. (Yelm HS '07)
High Jump - 5-3 (6th) - Brianna Okoro - Lakewood, Wash. (Bellermine Prep '08)
Long Jump - 17-5 1/2 (14th) - Brianna Okoro - Lakewood, Wash. (Bellermine Prep '08)
Long Jump - 18-3 (9th) - Krystal Deyo - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '06)
Long Jump - 18-3 3/4 (8th) - Shene Davis - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)
100 Hurdles Prelims - 14.99 (14th) - Christy Borders - Sunnyside, Wash. (Sunnyside HS ‘06 & Gonzaga)
400m Prelims - 1:00.17 (13th) - Kristen Felderman - Ravensdale, Wash. (Rainier Christian '06)
400 Hurdles Prelims - 1:02.99 (5th, advances to finals) - Ashley Stabl - Farmington, Wash. (Tekoa-Oakesdale HS '08)
400 Hurdles Prelims - 1:03.45 (9th, didn't advance) - Olivia Johnston - Kennewick, Wash. (Kamiakin HS '08)
100m Prelims - 12.07 (2nd, advances to finals) - Krystal Deyo - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '06)
100m Prelims - 12.36 (8th, advances to finals) - Shene Davis - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)
100m Prelims - 12.72 (12th, didn't advance) - Shannon Long - Richland, Wash. (Richland HS '04 & CC of Spokane)
200m Prelims- 26.28 (15th, didn't advance) - Shannon Long - Richland, Wash. (Richland HS '04 & CC of Spokane)
200m Prelims - 25.81 (12th, didn't advance) - Shene Davis - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)

Men's Competitors on Saturday:
Triple Jump - 11:00 p.m. - Cameron Moore - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS '04)
Triple Jump - 11:00 p.m. - Armand Hopkins - Seattle, Wash. (Renton HS '05)
Triple Jump - 11:00 p.m. - Levi Knudson - Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS '06)
Triple Jump - 11:00 p.m. - Kurt Williams - Snohomish, Wash. (Snohomish HS '06 & CC
Triple Jump - 11:00 p.m. - Stephen Praast - Ravensdale, Wash. (Tahoma HS '06)
Pole Vault - 11:30 p.m. - Ben Cogdill - Estacada, Ore. (Estacada HS '06 & Port. St. Univ.)
Pole Vault - 11:30 p.m. - Gabe Chavez - Hoquiam, Wash. (Hoquiam HS '06)
Pole Vault - 11:30 p.m. - Efrain Sanchez - Hoquiam, Wash. (Hoquiam HS '06)
Javelin - 12:00 p.m.- Cody Irby - Otis Orchards, Wash. (East Valley HS ‘05)
Javelin - 12:00 p.m. - Aaron Mettler - Walla Walla, Wash. (Walla Walla HS '07)
Javelin - 12:00 p.m. - John Clevenger - Hoquiam, Wash. (Wishkah HS '06)
Javelin - 12:00 p.m. - David Howard - Spokane, Wash. (East Valley HS '05 & CC of
4X100 Relay - 12:20 p.m.
1,500m - 12:40 p.m. - Alex Smyth - Kent, Wash. (Sequim HS '06)
Shot Put - 1:00 p.m. - David Howard - Spokane, Wash. (East Valley HS '05 & CC of Spokane)
110 Hurdles Prelims - 1:00 p.m. - Armon Blackwell - Tacoma, Wash. (Clover Pack HS
400m Prelims - 1:15 p.m. - Brad Wall - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen-Vancouver '08)
High Jump - 2:30 p.m. - Adam Stewart - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '07)
High Jump - 2:30 p.m. - Stephen Praast - Ravensdale, Wash. (Tahoma HS '06)
High Jump - 2:30 p.m. - Kersee Lind - Hermiston, Ore. (Hermiston HS '07)
5,000m - 3:00 p.m. - Alex Smyth - Kent, Wash. (Sequim HS '06)
5,000m - 3:00 p.m. - Paul Limpf - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '05)
5,000m - 3:00 p.m. (altitude adjusted to 14:46.05) - Kyle King - Coupeville, Wash. (Coupeville HS '08)
4X400 Relay - 3:35 p.m.

Women's Competitors for Saturday:
Hammer - 9:00 a.m. - Nicole Luckenbach - Mill Creek, Wash. (Snohomish HS '05)
Hammer - 9:00 a.m. - Aimee Carroll - Silverdale, Wash. (Central Kitsap HS '04)
Hammer - 9:00 a.m. - Emily Jacobsen - Bellevue, Wash. (Nevada Reno & Bellevue HS '06)
4X100 Relay - 12:15 p.m.
100m - 1:25 p.m. - Krystal Deyo - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '06)
100m - 1:25 p.m. - Shene Davis - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)
400 Hurdles - 1:55 p.m. - Ashley Stabl - Farmington, Wash. (Tekoa-Oakesdale HS '08)
Triple Jump - 2:00 p.m. - Shene Davis - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)
Triple Jump - 2:00 p.m. - Christy Borders - Yakima, Wash. (Selah HS '07)
Triple Jump - 2:00 p.m. - Allysen Halsen - Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS '05)
Discus - 2:30 p.m. - Bonnie Berscheid - Priest River, Idaho (Priest River HS '05)
Discus - 2:30 p.m. - Mari Bingham - Priest River, Idaho (Priest River HS '05)
5,000m - 2:35 p.m. - Amber Nickelson - Lake Stevens, Wash. (Lake Stevens HS '04)
4X400 Relay - 3:35 p.m.