Colignon Completes First Day of NCAA Decathlon

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

BEREA, OHIO -- Willamette University track and field athlete Evin Colignon (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) completed the first day of the decathlon in 13th place at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 27 at George Finnie Stadium. Colignon's highest finish in the first five events was second place in the shot put with a throw of 43' 8".

Colignon scored 3,306 points on Thursday. Competition in the final five events is scheduled for Friday, May 28, starting with the 110-meter hurdles at 11 a.m. (Eastern) / 8 a.m. (Pacific).

Kurtis Brondyke from Central College (Iowa) led the decathlon at the end of the first day with 3,786 points. He took second place in the long jump at 22' 10" and the high jump at 6' 6.75".

Richard Roethel of Christopher Newport University (Va.) was second overall with 3,753 points. Roethel won the 100-meter dash in 11.06 seconds and also won the high jump at 6' 11.50". Obinna Nwanna of Case Western Reserve University was third after five events with 3,712 points. Nwanna won of the shot put with a toss of 50' 4".

Other event winners on the first day were Ethan Miller of Central College with a leap of 22' 10.75" in the long jump and Jared Engelking from Tufts University (Mass.) with a time of 49.77 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

Colignon recorded his top event scores in the 400-meter dash and the 100-meter dash. He scored 738 points in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.70 seconds. He recorded 728 points in the 100-meter dash, as he completed the race in 11.62 seconds. His second place finish in the shot put earned 686 points.

On Friday, the 110-meter hurdles will be followed by the discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500-meter run. There will be approximately 30 minutes between events.

Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) of Willamette will compete in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday. The race is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. (Eastern) / 2:45 p.m. (Pacific).