Rough day for Washington athletes at NCAA track & field championships...

EUGENE—It was a rough day at the oval office for the Washington affiliated athletes competing at  the first day of the NCAA track & field championships at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

It all started early in the decathlon for Washington State’s Dino Dodig, as after running 11.25 in the 100 meters, he had a strong performance in the long jump, with a best of 22-5.75 (6.85m), 2.5 inches below his lifetime best.  Dodig was forced to withdraw before the shot put with a leg injury.

In the heptathlon, it was a tough one for reigning Pac-12 champ Alissa Brooks-Johnson of the Cougars, as she stands in 22nd place after four events with 3297 points.  

She started with a sub-par performance in the 100 hurdles, running 14.27 after hitting hurdle #8.  Brooks-Johnson high jumped 5-5.25 (1.66m), then threw the shot 37-9.5 (11.52m), and finished the day with a wind-aided PR of 24.63.

Washington’s Meron Simon returned to the scene of his greatest triumph in the 3000 steeplechase semis, but only finished tenth in 8:56.57.

Pac-12 800 champ Jesse Jorgensen of WSU had the ninth fastest time of the day in the 800, running 1:47.45.

Seattle Prep graduate Joe Hardy of Wisconsin and reigning Pac-12 1500 champ Izaic Yorks of Washington (left/photo by Mike Scott) were involved in some jostling, pushing and shoving in their semifinal.

Works moved to the front with about 2 laps to go, then got tangled up with Hardy at approximately the 600 mark.  Shortly before the bell, Yorks, who was trying to get back in position for the final lap, was tripped.  By the time he got up, he had spotted the field 20 meters.

A Husky protest led to Yorks being advanced to Friday’s final, while Hardy was disqualified for impeding Yorks.

David Elliott of Boise State, a graduate of Squalicum HS in Bellingham, ran the fastest time of the day, clocking 3:40.44.

In the men’s javelin, Washington’s Curtis Clauson finished ninth with a second round toss of 229-9 (70.04m), while Derek Eager from Tahoma HS & UCLA was 12th at 223-11 (68.27m), and sixth-year senior Kyle Stevens of WSU threw 212-0 (64.62m).

Oregon’s Marcus Chambers from Tacoma finished second in his heat of the 400, running 45.43, the third fastest time of the day.

Thursday, both Washington State women’s relay squads compete, along with Brooks-Johnson in the second day of the heptathlon.  Brooks-Johnson is also entered in the 400 hurdles, along with teammate Liz Harper.

Washington will have Baylee Mires in the 800 semis, Kristina Owsinski in the pole vault, and Gianna Woodruff in the 400 hurdles.

Also competing Thursday are Shelby Mills of Gonzaga and Pasco native Marisa Howard in the steeplechase, and Garfield HS grad Baileh Simms of Portland State in the long jump.

The link to results from the NCAA championships are available here.

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