May 11, 2002

SEATTLE - Travis Huntsinger (Sr., Milton/Fife) won the men's javelin with a NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying toss of 199-8 to lead Western Washington University in its final regular-season meet Saturday at the 16th annual Ken Foreman Track and Field Invitational hosted by Seattle Pacific University at Husky Stadium on the UW campus.

Huntsinger hit the standard on his first attempt, bettering his best mark of the year by over five feet. The school record holder in the men's javelin at 207-3, he placed 15th at nationals last year.

"It was good to see Travis win in his final regular-season competition," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "I don't know if it will be enough to get him to nationals."

"He was one of a number of seniors competing in their final collegiate meet. It's sad to see them go."

Two Vikings improved their provisional qualifying marks, Ashlee Vincent (Fr., Bellingham/Squalicum) running 10:02.32 to place third in the women's 3000 meters and Danielle Juarez (Jr., Olympia/North Thurston) clearing 11-9 3/4 to finish fourth in the women's pole vault.

"According to the most recent list that will probably get them in (to nationals)," Halsell said, "but we won't know for sure until the final list of qualifiers is released Wednesday."

Western's Dania Swosinski (So., Tacoma/Wilson) placed second in the women's 400 in a season-best 57.06 and was third in the 200 (25.63), and Kate Herber (Bellevue) finished second in the 100 hurdles (15.19). They ran the first two legs on the Vikings' 4x100 relay that placed second in a season-best time of 48.26.

James Deaver (Sr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) was third in the men's shot put (47-10 1/2), with Melissa Behrens (So., Snoqualmie/Eastlake) in the women's 100 (12.69), Stacey Hopkins (So., Sammamish/Eastlake) in the women's javelin (138-6), and the men's 4x400 relay (3:20.73), all placing fourth for Western.

Finishing fifth for the Vikings were Hunter Verner (So., Brentwood, TN) in the men's pole vault (15-1), Tony Kyle (Sr., Bow/Burlington-Edison) in the men's discus (140-11) and Natalie Svenvold (Sr., Kent/Kent-Meridian) in the women's high jump (5-3).

The NCAA National Championship meet is May 23-25 at San Angelo, Tex.