EUGENE, Ore. – Being smack dab in the middle of Tracktown USA has many benefits for the Bushnell University track & field program, and one of those benefits came into focus on Friday night as five select Beacons qualified to compete for the first time at the renovated Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
 
"All-in-all it was a very good day for the Beacons," said Tom Boldon, Bushnell Director of Track. "I like what I see in our athletes. They work very hard and compete even harder."
 
Senior Logan Oakerman competed in two events for the Beacons and once again broke a school record. He topped his discus standard with an opening throw of 47.13 meters, jumping to second place on the Cascade Collegiate Conference performance list. He missed hitting the NAIA "B" qualification standard by just 18.5 inches.
 
Oakerman took seventh-place in a stacked field in the discus. Later on, he was the top collegiate finisher in the shot put, beating two throwers from the University of Oregon. He finished second overall with a best toss of 13.92m.
 
While not a school-record, Jaron Carter (pictured) had an impressive showing in the 200m run with a season-best time of 22.13. He won his heat and took seventh overall, jumping from No. 5 to No. 3 on the CCC performance list.
 
Also competing for the men was Hunter Reininger who took tenth-place in the long jump (6.11m).
 
For the women, Janae Usselman competed in the Javelin and took seventh place, tossing the stick 37.49 meters. Also competing was Pole Vault school-record holder Carina Haas, who was unable to register a successful clearance. The opening height would have established a new school record for the junior.
 
Three Beacons will be in action at Hayward on Saturday morning. Carter is set to return for the 100m run while Sarah Phillips will compete in the high jump and 400m hurdles and Jordyn Edewards will have a go at the 100m hurdles. The bulk of the team will head to McMinnville on Saturday to compete in the Linfield Invitational.