HOUSTON, Texas - Sophomore Jakob Bissell broke the school record in the hammer throw, propelling North Dakota into first place after day one of the 2012 Great West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
Bissell, a native of Plymouth, N.H., logged a throw of 54.92 meters to edge the previous record of 54.91 set by teammate Shawn Johnson (So., Eveleth, Minn.) in April. Bissell placed third in the event, one of four Sioux throwers to score in the finals. Johnson finished fifth, while Brandon Quesenberry (Sr., Billings, Mont.) and Roman Waldera (So., Minot, N.D.) took seventh and eighth, respectively.
UND's four qualifiers in the hammer finals were the most of any team, and helped the Sioux accumulate a day one-leading 22 points, five better than second-place Seattle.
"We're off to a great start," said UND head coach Kevin Galbraith. "The throwers started really well."
Sophomore Alex Hickel added to UND's impressive opening day, logging a personal record and finishing second in the javelin. The Grand Forks, N.D., native recorded a mark of 57.42 meters (188 feet, 5 inches), a throw topped only by NJIT's Josh Ugwuneri (59 meters).
Bissell placed eighth in the javelin.
In the 10K race, senior Adam Stainiger (Chisholm, Minn.) placed 10th with a time of 35 minutes, 11.95 seconds.
The 2012 GWC Outdoor Championship continues Friday and Saturday at Turner Stadium.
Bissell, a native of Plymouth, N.H., logged a throw of 54.92 meters to edge the previous record of 54.91 set by teammate Shawn Johnson (So., Eveleth, Minn.) in April. Bissell placed third in the event, one of four Sioux throwers to score in the finals. Johnson finished fifth, while Brandon Quesenberry (Sr., Billings, Mont.) and Roman Waldera (So., Minot, N.D.) took seventh and eighth, respectively.
UND's four qualifiers in the hammer finals were the most of any team, and helped the Sioux accumulate a day one-leading 22 points, five better than second-place Seattle.
"We're off to a great start," said UND head coach Kevin Galbraith. "The throwers started really well."
Sophomore Alex Hickel added to UND's impressive opening day, logging a personal record and finishing second in the javelin. The Grand Forks, N.D., native recorded a mark of 57.42 meters (188 feet, 5 inches), a throw topped only by NJIT's Josh Ugwuneri (59 meters).
Bissell placed eighth in the javelin.
In the 10K race, senior Adam Stainiger (Chisholm, Minn.) placed 10th with a time of 35 minutes, 11.95 seconds.
The 2012 GWC Outdoor Championship continues Friday and Saturday at Turner Stadium.
