• News
• |
• Schedule
• |
• Roster
• |
• Archives

May 25, 2012

PUEBLO, Colorado - Western Washington University's Alex Harrison, a senior from Edmonds (graduate of Edmonds-Woodway High School), placed seventh in the decathlon in second-day action Friday at the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships being held at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.

Harrison finished with 6,677 points, having the best marks of the competition's final day in both the discus (132-5, 40.37 meters) and javelin (193-2, 58.89). He cleared 13-5 1/4 (4.10) in the pole vault and posted times of 15.57 in the 110-meter hurdles and 5:05.52 in the 1,500.

"I didn't do anything especially great today compared to my season bests," said Harrison, "but I was pleased with my marks in the throwing events. The throws are my strength."

"My goal coming in was to reach 6,800, but that wasn't possible after a mediocre first day."

Harrison began Friday 11th among the 12 competitors after accumulating 3,329 points in the first five events.

On Thursday, he tied his season-best of 11.54 seconds in the 100 meters, then had marks of 19-11 (6.07) in the long jump, 43-9 (13.33) in the shot put and 5-8 1/2 (1.74) in the high jump, followed by a 52.14 clocking in the 400. The high jump mark and 400 time were both season bests, and the shot put mark topped the field.

Harrison's point total was 95 short of his own school record (6,772) set in mid-April at the California Invitational.

"He had a good solid effort," said WWU head coach Pee Wee Halsell (25th year). "He was very smart in his approach and he did what he needed to do."

Chico State's Patrick Smith won the decathlon with 7,366 points.

Harrison, who missed last season with a hamstring injury, is a two-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference decathlon champion. He placed 10th at nationals in 2010.

On Saturday, Harrison competes in the javelin. He broke his own school record earlier this spring with a mark of 214-7. Two years ago, Harrison finished fifth in that event at nationals.