May 24, 2003

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Western Washington University's Stacey Hopkins earned All-America honors by placing seventh in the women's javelin at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Ralph Korte Stadium on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville campus.

Hopkins, a junior from Sammamish (Eastlake High graduate), had a mark of 146-7 on her third throw of the competition. She was sixth entering the finals.

"I was just ecstatic to be in the top eight," said Hopkins. "That was my goal coming in, and I ended up seventh. I would rather have been sixth, which I was going into the finals. But seventh is fine because it's my mom's birthday today and seven is her favorite number."

Winning the event was Angelo State's Amber Miller with a meet record toss of 169-0.

Hopkins entered the competition ranked eighth nationally with a personal-best throw of 148-4, the fifth-best toss in school history, on Apr. 19 at the Central Washington Invitational.

"She had a good round her first three throws and had a great competition," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "It was fun for me to watch and keep track of."

It is the eighth time that the Vikings have had an All-America in the women's javelin, and the first since Western became a full NCAA II member in 1998.

The Vikings' Joan Williamson was a four-time All-America, winning the event at the 1984 NAIA National Championships with a throw of 166-6, still the school record. Laura Kruse placed second (157-8) at the NAIA meet in 1998, Sherry Stripling finished third (143-4 1/2) at the AIAW National Championships in 1973, and Maureen Christman was sixth (144-7) at the NAIA meet in 1988.

Western's Ashlee Vincent (So., Bellingham/Squalicum) runs in the women's 5,000 final at 7:30 p.m. CT. It is the second trip to nationals for Vincent, who ranks No.13 nationally.

Vincent, who is transferring to NCAA I Portland next fall for academic reasons, ran the 5,000 twice during the regular season. Her best outing came at the Stanford Invitational where she set a school record with a 17:02.00 clocking. That was 15 seconds better than the best time by a NCAA II Northwest runner in the past five years.

Western's Zach Boteilho (Sr., Camas) placed 17th in the men's 10,000 meters Thursday.

2003 NCAA II National Women's Javelin Results
1. Amber Miller, Angelo State, 169-0
2. Kateema Riettie, S. Connecticut, 157-4
3. Karyn McCready, Slippery Rock, 155-10
4. Anjanae Wilson, Pittsburg State, 153-1
5. Leah Shireman, Pittsburg State, 149-11
6. Wendy Robertson, Angelo State, 147-4
7. Stacey Hopkins, Western Washington, 146-7
8. Julie Evenoski, Clarion University, 145-8
9. Cassandra Leopold, Edinboro, 139-10
10.Holly Conrad, Western Oregon,138-6
11.Carrie Bullman, Clarion, 135-11
12.Kelley Cobb, Northern Colorado, 134-10
13.Maegan Bergeson, Cal State L.A., 131-9
14.Dana Olimb, North Dakota, 131-7
15.Calista Shoaff, Slippery Rock, 131-6
16.Courtney Hurt, Emporia State, 130-9