EOU Team Challenge results

HERMISTON, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene senior Rimar Christie once again wrote his name in the Crusader record books on Saturday.

The sprinter who already holds the NNU record in the 100- and 200-meter dashes put his name on another record as he ran the fastest time in Crusader history in the 110-meter hurdles in the season-opening Eastern Oregon Team Challenge outdoor track and field meet at Hermiston High School.

Christie's time of 14.80 seconds was good for second in the event on the day, an opening day that saw the Crusaders grab four event wins and turn in a series of top Great Northwest Athletic Conference marks.

"It was a nice season opener," NNU head track and field coach John Spatz said. "Now we are looking forward to the meets in California after the break."

With the outdoor season just underway, the Crusaders take a week off for spring break, but return to action April 3-4 at the Stanford Invitational and San Francisco State Distance Carnival meets.

Christie's record run was part of a busy day for the NNU sprinter who also was second in the 100 meters in 10.65, second in the 200 in 22.23 and anchored the Crusaders' 4x100 relay team of Zach Mason, Payton Lewis and Jacob Oswalt to victory in 43.76.

Lewis' win in the relay was one of two on the day for him as the freshman, fresh off his a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in the pole vault, won that event Saturday at Hermiston HS clearing 15 feet, 11 inches.

That is the best mark in the GNAC so far this season, and was one of the top finishes for Lewis who also was third in the discus (132-11).

Adding wins on the women's side for NNU was Chelsey Knott in the 100-meter hurdles with a GNAC-best time of 14.42 seconds and Caitlin Curtis in the hammer throw with a mark of 142-7. Curtis also was second in the discus with a throw of 134-2, second-best in the GNAC.

And right behind Knott in the hurdles was teammate Lexi Tubbs as the freshman women's basketball player clocked the second-fastest time in the GNAC in the event – in her collegiate track & field debut – of 14.59.

The Crusaders dominated in the hurdles on both sides as Kyle McLaughlin was third in the men's race in 15.07 – third best this season in the GNAC – and Micah Spatz was fourth in 15.43.

The Crusaders also picked up a handful more second-place finishes on the day as Courtney Brewer cleared 5-3 in the women's high jump and Alison Silva cleared 11-5.75 in the pole vault, each placing second. Silva's vault ties her for the top mark in the GNAC this season.

On the men's side, Cole Hoberg cleared 6-8 in the high jump to finish second, Kirk Gartrell was second in the long jump with a mark of 21-5.5, and John VanBeuren was second in the hammer throw with a throw of 156-7. Hoberg's jump is the best in the GNAC this season.