WSU's Matt Lamb fifth in NCAA discus finals...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Washington State junior Matt Lamb (left/photo courtesy Washington State sports information) finished fifth in the men’s discus at the NCAA Track & Field Championships at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas, with a toss of 190-4 (58.01m).

Lamb, who entered the finals with the sixth best throw in the qualifying round of 192-11 (58.81m) got his toss in the fourth round of competition.

"All things considered, this was a pretty good way to end a mediocre season so I'll take it," Lamb said. "I'm about 30 to 35 pounds heavier than I was a year ago so I don't feel like I'm in the same throwing shape. I'm a lot stronger but I'm having a hard time transferring it into the discus. If I don't go to the USA nationals I'm going to relax and stay out of the weight room and get away from throwing for a little bit and focus on next season. I still have one more year and if I don't end up on the top of the podium I will be disappointed."

"I'm happy with his finish today because with the year he's had, this shows that he recovered so much," Cougar Associate Coach Debra Farwell said. "He is starting to get his form back and he threw over 190-feet both days. To finish fifth at the national championship is a huge boost of confidence for him."

In the men’s 1500, Washington senior Austin Abbott from Chehalis finished seventh in a time of 3:41.15. Former UW teammate Jordan McNamara, a product of Auburn Riverside HS, who now runs for the University of Oregon, finished eleventh in a time of 3:42.42.

McNamara had an opportunity to win Oregon’s first national team title with a seventh place finish. His eleventh place finish left the Ducks with 46 team points, and head coach Vin Lannana sweating out the final events as Texas A&M (left/photo by Mike Scott) won the national title with their second place finish in the 4 x 400 meter relay.

Oregon ended up in a three-way tie for second with Florida State and Florida with 46 points.

Washington’s Christine Babcock, the outstanding freshman from Irvine, California, placed 11th in the women’s 1500 in a time of 4:20.41.

In the final team standings, the Washington women, led by steeplechaser Mel Lawrence, and 10000 meter runner Anita Campbell, were nineteenth with 14 points. Washington State finished 58th with 3 points.

Texas A&M won the women’s team title, scoring 50 points.

Washington State, with Jeshua Anderson’s victory in the 400 hurdles finished 17th with 14 points. The Huskies were 20th with 13 points.

For the majority of these athletes, the NCAA marked the end of the 2008-09 season. However, a host of athletes with USA citizenship will compete in the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in two weeks at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

Complete results from the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships can be accessed here.

Here's the final recap of how UW, WSU & other athletes with Washington ties fared at the NCAA track & field championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas:

MEN

Austin Abbott (UW): Seventh in 1500, 3:41.15
Sam Ahlbeck (WSU): Ran 8:49.88 in 3000 steeple semis
Jeshua Anderson (WSU): Won 400 hurdles in 48.47
Trent Arrivey (WSU): Ninth in high jump, 7-0.25 (2.14m)
Jordan Boase (UW): Ran 46.55 in 400m semifinals
Abdi Hassan (Nathan Hale/Arizona): Did not finish 1500m semifinals
Matt Lamb (WSU): Fifth in discus with throw of 190-4 (58.01m).
Barry Leavitt (WSU): Ran 50.55 in semifinals of 400 hurdles
Alex McClary (Arkansas/Shelton HS): Ran 1:49.72 in semifinals of 800m
Andy McClary (Arkansas/Shelton HS): Ran 3:47.50 in semifinals of 1500m
Jordan McNamara (Auburn Riverside/Oregon): Finished 11th in 1500m, 3:42.42
Zach Midles (UW): Threw 210-0 (64.01m) in hammer qualifying round
Kyle Nielsen (UW): Finished sixth in javelin, 231-6 (70.56m)
Jared O'Connor (UW): No-heighted in pole vault finals
Jake Riley (Bellingham/Stanford): Eighth in 10000, 29:14.53
Scott Roth (UW): Second in pole vault, 18-2.50 (5.55m)
Jake Schmitt (UW): Finished 22nd in 10000, 30:22.91.
Jake Shanklin (Spokane CC/Wyoming): Tenth in hammer throw, 207-11 (63.38m)
Robert Williams (WSU): Ran 14.74 in first round of 110 hurdles
Justin Woods (WSU)--Ran 10.35 in first round of 100; ran 21.23 in second round of 200

4 x 100 Relay Men Semifinal--Jeff Gudaitis, Kenjamine Jackson , Randy Bacon, and Joe Turner (UW): Ran 40.49, did not advance

WOMEN

Christine Babcock (UW): Finished 11th in 1500m final, 4:20.41
Elisa Bryant (UW): Threw 179-5 (54.68m) in hammer qualifying round
Anita Campbell (UW): Third in 10000m, 33:43.33
Kailey Campbell (UW): Ran 4:20.10 in semifinals of 1500
Lisa Egami (WSU): Ran 4:23.15 in semifinals of 1500
Katie Follett (UW): Twelfth in 5000, 16:52.76
Lorraine King (WSU): Ran 58.99 in first round of 400 hurdles
Mel Lawrence (UW): Third in 3000 steeplechase, 9:40.98
Kara Patterson (Skyline-Vancouver/Purdue): second in javelin, 190-2 (57.96m)
Brooke Pighin (UW): Seventh in javelin, 165-9 (50.53m)
Marissa Tschida (WSU): Sixth in javelin, 166-5 (50.72m)

NOTE: Special thanks to the sports information office of the University of Arkansas, the University of Washington, Washington State University, and the NCAA for assistance during the championships.