Viking senior Bethany Drake wins second NCAA Division II javelin title...
BRADENTON, Florida—Western Washington’s Bethany Drake won her second NCAA Division II national title Saturday in the javelin on the final day of competition at the IMG Academy Track & Field Complex Saturday.
Drake, a native of Sandy, Oregon who won the national title as a sophomore in 2014, threw a best of 169-11 (51.81m) on her fifth attempt.
In fact, so dominant was her performance that any of her three fair throws on the day was good enough to win the title.
In the first round, Drake, who qualified for the US Olympic Trials in this event last year, took command with a toss of 163-6 (49.83m), then followed it up with an improvement to 161-1 (50.94m).
After two straight fouls, she got the spear out past the 51 meter mark, throwing her best of 169-11 (51.81m) before fouling her last attempt.
Saint Martin’s Deanna Avalos was fourth with a best of 157-5 (47.98m), while teammate Jona Spiller was 11th at 143-4 (43.68m), and Seattle Pacific’s Sammi Markham was 12th at 140-8 (42.89m).
Saint Martin’s Mikel Smith, the defending NCAA indoor and outdoor champion, finished fifth with a best of 6-10.75 (2.10m), as Cervantes Jackson of Albany State won with a best of 7-1 (2.16m).
In the women’s 5000, Vancouver native Georgia Porter, competing for Western State of Colorado was fifth in 16:33.63 after sitting in third for most of the race.
Her Western State teammate Alicja Koniezek won her second national title of the meet, in a time of 16:24.22, after winning the steeplechase Friday.
Porter was third in the 10000 on Thursday, running 34:52.38.
Seattle Pacific’s Mary Charleson was 19th in 17:15.48.
In the women’s pole vault, Western Washington’s Anna Paradee was 11th with a best of 12-6.75, as Emily Presley of Missouri Southern won with a clearance of 13-2.5 (4.03m).
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