College Notebook: Dixson, Limage win NAIA national titles

Concordia University junior Gabi Dixson and senior Junia Limage each won NAIA outdoor track and field event championships Saturday in Marion, Ind.

Dixson, who competed for Battle Ground High School, won the discus by 171/2 feet with a mark of 173 feet, leading a 1-2 Cavaliers finish with Kayla Xavier. Earlier in the meet, she placed second behind Xavier in the shot put (50 feet, 71/4 inches) and 17th in the hammer. Xavier’s shot put mark was 50-10. Dixson accounted for 18 team points with her discus and shot put finishes.

Oklahoma Baptist claimed the team title, 1011/2 to 81 over Concordia, the 2011 champion.

Limage, a Fort Vancouver High School graduate, won the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 7.10 seconds, garnering 10 team points. Oklahoma Baptist’s Hannah Helker was second in 2:08.84. Limage was also the NAIA indoor 800 champion.

For the Concordia men, Andre Washington (Hudson’s Bay High School) helped the men’s 1,600-meter relay team to eighth place with a time of 3:12.97.

The WWU and Humboldt State varsity eights had split a pair of head-to-head meetings leading up to nationals. The Vikings led until the final 50 meters on the 2,000-meter course before being overtaken.

Humboldt State finished in 6:48.84. WWU’s time was 6:50.45.

WWU has placed among the top three teams in all 11 championships contested in Division II. The Vikings were second in 2002 and 2003, and third in 2004.

Turner 6th, Arn 14th at NCAA-III track

George Fox University junior Alyssa Turner placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III track and field championships in Claremont, Calif.

The Hudson’s Bay High School graduate ran a personal record of 1:01.53 and scored three team points for the Bruins, while earning All-America status. Heather Gearity of Montclair State won in 1:00.27.

Also for the Bruins, freshman Charity Arn placed 14th in the heptathlon won by teammate Alexis Arnold.

Arn, a Woodland High School graduate, was 21st after four events Thursday before finishing with 4,398 points. Arnold had 4,920. Arn’s best event finish was third place in the 800 meters Friday.

GFU tied for 15th in the team standings.

NCAA West prelims track and field locals

Ryan Hamilton helped the University of Washington 400-meter relay team qualify for the NCAA Championships at the West Preliminary Round meet in Austin, Texas.

The Evergreen High School graduate’s quartet placed 12th overall with a time of 39.98 seconds. Texas A&M posted the top time of 39.11 seconds.

The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships, June 6-9 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

• Emily Thomas (Gonzaga sophomore, Camas High School) placed 24th in the 10,000 meters and her former Papermakers teammate Kayla Blackford (Weber State sophomore) was 38th. Thomas finished in 35:55.98 seconds, becoming the first Gonzaga athlete — male or female — to compete in an NCAA regional meet.

Blackford’s time was 37:34.42. Wichita State’s Aliphine Tuliamuk won in 33:51.54. Of the 48 qualifiers, 47 started the race and 41 finished in warm, humid conditions.

• Sam Ferenchak (Washington State freshman, Union High School) placed 16th in the men’s javelin with a mark of 214 feet. The 12th and final qualifying mark was 222 feet, 11 inches. Top qualifier Sam Humphreys of Texas A&M had a mark of 255-8.

• Gaby Midles (Idaho senior, Camas High School) placed 34th in the women’s hammer with a mark of 182-11. UNLV’s Amanda Bingson was the top qualifier at 233-1, with the 12th and final qualifier at 204-1.

• Brad Michael (Eastern Washington freshman, Skyview High School) was seventh in his heat of the 400 meters with a time of 48.10 seconds, and 42nd overall. There were six heats. Deon Lendore of Texas A&M posted the top qualifying time of 45.91 seconds.

• Jordin Seekins (University of Washington junior, Washougal High School) was 47th in women’s javelin at 118-4.

• Ryan Soberanis (Washington senior, Camas/La Salle High School of Milwaukie, Ore.) was 11th in his heat of the 1,500 meters, and 45th overall, with a time of 4:10.11. There were four heats. Rob Finnerty of Wisconsin posted the top qualifying time of 3:45.98. The 12th and final qualifying time was 3:54.92.

Walter to play for Colorado Mesa U.

Skyview High School graduate Paul Walter has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Colorado Mesa University after two seasons at Mount Hood Community College.

The Mavericks compete in the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Beall garners WILA academic honors

Dominican University of California lacrosse midfielder Brock Beall was named to the Academic All-Conference team by the Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The Camas High School graduate played lacrosse for King’s Way Christian High School.

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