
EUGENE / CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Nick McMillen and Jonas Hartline punched their ticket to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, while Eli Stevens won the pole vault, as the Oregon Tech men's track team competed at two venues on Friday night.
Racing in a stellar 10,000-meter field at the Oregon Preview at historic Hayward Field, McMillen and Hartline ran the perfect tactical race – each breaking the NAIA "A" standard of 31:10 in the grueling 25-lap event. McMillen placed 12th in the 15-racer field with a time of 31:04.39, just ahead of Hartline and his time of 31:05.98.
At the Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open, Stevens cleared 4.25 meters (13 feet, 11.25 inches) to win the pole vault – hitting the Cascade Conference meet qualifying standard. The freshman also placed fifth in the javelin (39.18 meters / 128 feet, 6 inches).
Tomorrow, OIT athletes will compete in the track events and remaining field events at Lewis & Clark College.