Central's Drew Klein rallies to earn decathlon podium spot at NCAA D2 champs...

EMPORIA, Kansas--Central Washington's Drew Klein (center/CWU Athletics photo), who started day 2 in 14th place, rallied on day 2 of the decathlon at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships at Francis G. Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University Friday evening to finish eighth with a personal best score of 7041 points.

Klein started day 2 with a run of 15.13 in the 110 hurdles, then threw the discus 123-8 (37.70m).

The senior picked up some big points in the pole vault, winning the event with a best of 16-0.75 (4.90m), just off his personal best of 16-2.75 (4.95m). After the pole vault, he moved from twelfth to ninth.

He finished third in the javelin (Nathan Herde/GNAC photo) with a best of 168-4 (51.30m) to move up one place to a podium spot, then ran the 1500 in 4:51.43 to clinch the first team All-America status that comes with scoring at the national championships. His 7041 points eclipsed his previous personal best of 6908, and got him over the 7000 point barrier for the first time.

Fran Bonifacic of West Texas A&M won the decathlon with a final score of 7499 points.

In the only field event final involving a Washington athlete, Western Washington's Liam Wall finished 19th in the men's discus with a firs attempt throw of 163-9 (49.93m), as he fouled his other two throws.

The men's 4 x 400 relay qualifying saw Western Washington's team of Jackson Moffitt, Sam Foust, Evin Ford, Lucas Brenek run a school record 3:07.32 to finish third in their heat and earn a time qualifier into Saturday's final.

Running in the second heat, the Viking women's squad, consisting of Casie Kleine, Jayda Darroch, Kennedy Cook, and Bec Bennett, finished second, running to a school record 3:35.92, with Bennett anchoring in 52.22.

Central Washington's team of Ellie DeGroot, Carley Huber, Donna Marie Harris, and Elise Hopper was fourth in the heat and earned the final time qualifier in 3:37.77. Hopper ran the fastest split of any anchor, running 51.74 to help the Wildcats get the final spot in Saturday's finals.

Earlier in the day, Hopper finished fifth in her heat of the 200, running 23.62, and did not advance.

Here's the list of individuals with Washington ties competing in the final day of the meet (all times Pacific):

M JT: Jakob Braunstein (WWU) 10:00 am

W SP: Maliyah Gordon (CWU), Jessica Polkinghorn (WWU) 10:30 am

W JT: Jessica Polkinghorn (WWU) 1:00 pm

1500: Emmy Kroontje (WWU) 2:05 pm

400: Bec Bennett (WWU) 2:45 pm

400H Maurice Woodring (WWU) 3:40 pm

M 5000: Ramon Rodriguez (Tiffin), Julian Campos (Adams State) 4:30 pm

M 4x4: Western Washington 5:20 pm

W 4x4: Western Washington, Central Washington 5:30 pm

NCAA.com will have a free stream available.

The link to live results and the time schedule is available here.

NOTE: The NCAA, GNAC, and the sports information offices of Western Washington, and Central Washington contributed to this report.

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