The Torch

Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy of Stacy Davis Cyrus Hostetler rears back for a throw at the Oregon Preview March 22 getting a distance of 204 feet. Hostetler then went on to break a long-standing record at the Willamette Invitational with a distance of 217 feet.

The LCC track and field team traveled to Salem last weekend to compete in the Willamette Invitational. At the end of the meet, the Titans had 11 top finishes and a record-breaking performance in the javelin throw.
Cold, windy and at times wet weather plagued the April 4-5 meet located at Willamette University. But the tracksters overcame and continued to give the high-grade performances they have in the past. "There were some tough conditions, but we had pretty good overall good attitudes and competed well," Grady O'Connor, head track coach, said.
For two LCC athletes, the Willamette Invitational was their first look at competition for the season. Pole-vaulter Adam Brink took advantage of his opening meet, taking first place. Jarett Axelrod tied for third place with Seth Lindquist in the high jump. It was Axelrod's first appearance since winning the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College's championship in the high jump last year.
The meet was a milestone for the Titans. It featured the most LCC athletes competing out of any meets this season. "This was the first meet where we were basically 98 percent strong. And even though it was a non-scoring invitational meet, every event we had athletes sprinting, jumping [and] throwing," O'Connor said.
The highlight of the meet came when Cyrus Hostetler broke the LCC school record in the javelin throw with a 217-foot throw earning him his second first place finish in his past three competitions.
"He's been after that school record for a while now," O'Connor said. "It's been there a while and that puts him in the front of NWAACC."
The record-breaking throw was an 11-foot improvement on Hostetler's last distance at the Oregon Open. "I told you I'd get the record!" Hostetler yelled moments after the throw.
Hostetler doesn't intend for his improvement to stop there and promises more impressive throws. "I still got more. I mean, I know I do," he said. "I don't think there is a limit."
The team is now looking forward to the Oregon vs. Washington meet in Spokane, Wash.
The meet will be set up as a shoot-out between Oregon and Washington teams in the NWAACC conference. LCC and Mt. Hood Community College will combine their scores in an attempt to defeat the Spokane and Clark Community College teams. This is the first year a meet of this format has been scheduled.
It will be the first meet in which the Titans will be scored as team and O'Connor hopes to see his team come together. The meet may give a preview of the NWAACC championship meet, which will also take place in Spokane.
"We're going to try to get familiar with the setting and the competition," O'Connor said. "This is our pre-NWAACC meet."

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