Washington & Washington State throwers highlight journey to Austin for Texas Relays...

Both Washington and Washington State's javelin throwers highlight competition at the Texas Relays meet that began Wednesday with the multi-events at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.

For the athletes competing this week at Texas, this will be an opportunity for them to see the venue where the NCAA West Regional, or NCAA Championship preliminary round meet will be held.

Saturday, April 3. All Americans Kyle Nielsen and Brooke Pighin (left/photo courtesy University of Washington),will throw the spear, as will freshman Joe Zimmerman of Spokane, who was the 2009 Washington State 4A Champion. Nielsen, now a junior, was sixth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last season, while Pighin, also entering her junior year and second at UW, was seventh at NCAAs on the women's side.

Washington State will send All American Marissa Tschida and 2009 USA junior team member Courtney Kirkwood to Austin to battle in the women's javelin.

The first Huskies to see action will be hammer throwers Zack Midles and Angus Taylor on Thursday, April 1. Midles, now in his senior season, is looking to improve on a 13th-place finish from the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer, which netted him his first career All-America honor. Taylor was a Regional qualifier as a freshman last season and this year will hold goals of scoring at the Pac-10 meet and reaching the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Midles ranks fourth on UW's all-time hammer list while Taylor is 10th.

Cougar men scheduled to compete at Texas includes Joe Abbott (4x400m relay), Jeshua Anderson (400m hurdles, 4x400m relay), Trent Arrivey (high jump), Ryan Deese (high jump), Greg Hornsby (100m, 4x400m relay), Matt Lamb (discus), and Marlon Murray (100m). WSU women making the trip includes Veronica Elseroad-Wall (400m hurdles), Princess Joy Griffey (100m), Kendall Mays (pole vault), and Holly Parent (high jump).

The Texas Relays got off to a bang Wednesday with the multi-event competition, as Oregon's Ashton Eaton, fresh off his world record performance a few weeks ago in the NCAA heptathlon competition, scored a first-day personal record of 4492, while setting lifetime best in the 100, long jump, and shot put.

Eaton won the 100 meters in 10.34 seconds before capturing the long jump with a terrific leap of 25-10.25. He then took third in the shot put with his third PR of the day, a mark of 43-0.25.

Eaton then tied for first in the high jump with the bar at 6-7.5. He concluded the day by winning the 400 meters in 47.06.

To follow all the events of the Texas Relays, please click here.

NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Washington, Washington State University, and the University of Texas contributed to this report.