LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Sophomore Shawn Johnson made history on Friday, breaking the school record in the hammer throw at Long Beach State's Beach Invitational.
Johnson, a native of Eveleth, Minn., recorded a throw of 177 feet, 10 inches, shattering Josh Haugan's 7-year old record of 172-10. That mark was also good enough to place him eighth among 18 throwers in the event.
Teammate Jakob Bissell (So., Plymouth, N.H.) came in just under the previous standard, registering a mark of 172-09.
The UND duo recorded the third and fourth-best hammer throws in the Great West Conference this season.
Also of note, sophomore Kent Luetzen ran the top 400-meter hurdles time in the Great West Conference this season. The Minot, N.D., native ran the race in 54.20 seconds, which was also good enough for a 16th-place finish among 42 participants.
In Saturday's field events, sophomore Jesse Fenstermacher (Hibbing, Minn.) placed 27th among 110 competitors in the 800-meters with a time of 1:52.42. Teammate Tyler Rose (Brainerd, Minn.) ran a time of 1:55.05, placing him 61st.
UND also has split squads competing at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., the Azusa Pacific Bryan Clay Invitational, and the Carleton Relays in Northfield, Minn.
