Loos Wins Men's Hammer Throw, Places Second in Javelin, at Lane Preview

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

EUGENE, ORE. -- Willamette University athlete Jordan Loos (Jr., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS) won the men's hammer throw with a personal record distance, and placed second in the men's javelin, on the first day of the Lane Preview, hosted by Lane Community College on Friday, March 14.

All of the throwing events were completed on Friday. The remaining events in the track and field meet will be held on Saturday.

Loos threw the hammer 159' 1", as he surpassed his previous top distance by nearly five feet. His old personal record was 154' 5" at the 2013 Northwest Conference Championships.

On Friday, Loos topped a 1-2-3 finish for the Bearcats in the hammer. He was followed by Max Faulhaber (Sr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) in second place at 157' 2". Tyler Higley (Jr., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) earned third place at 155' 5".

In the javelin, Loos placed second with a distance of 168' 11". He trailed only Neil Gravatt from Western Oregon University, who won the event at 171' 9".

Meka Townsend (So., Okanogan, WA/Okanogan HS) provided the Bearcats with a victory in the women's javelin throw. Her top throw covered 126' 6", allowing her to win by two inches over Gabrielle Head from Lane CC. Head registered a distance of 126' 4" for the Titans.

Three Bearcats placed in the top seven out of 19 competitors in the women's hammer throw. Kelsey Engstrom (Jr., Clinton, WA/South Whidbey HS) led the way in third place at 133' 11". Kaeleigh Thorp (Jr., Sam Leandro, CA/Encinal HS) claimed fourth place at 133' 4". Taryn Greenberg (Jr., Newport Beach, CA/Corona Del Mar HS) was seventh at 123' 7".

The women's hammer was won by Leah Wilson from Lane CC with a top distance of 135' 0". Wlson also was victorious in the women's shot put at 44' 6.25".

Willamette finished the women's discus throw with two athletes in the top five. Jossalyn Wright (Jr., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) achieved fourth place with a toss of 121' 6". Thorp attained fifth place with a personal record throw of 119' 2", adding more than three feet to her previous best of 115' 8", set at the West Coast Invitational on May 9, 2013.

Wright led the Bearcats in the women's shot put, as she took seventh place at 35' 0.25".

Higly placed third in the men's shot put with a toss of 46' 5.25". Hans Lehndorff (So., Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) placed seventh at 41' 7". Lehndorff also was seventh in the discus, as he earned a distance of 123' 0".