PULLMAN, Wash. ? University of Idaho senior thrower Matt Wauters opened the 2009 indoor track and field season with an NCAA provisional mark in the 35-point weight throw Friday afternoon at the WSU Open.
Wauters' throw of 19.92m (65-4.25) was good enough to give him his fifth consecutive win at the meet and move him into eighth in the NCAA in the event.
The mark was well short of Wauters' school record of 21.56m (70-9), but Idaho throws coach Julie Taylor said it was a good starting point for the first meet of the year.
Also in the competition, Evan Ruud, a junior transfer from Central Washington, took fourth for Idaho with a toss of 18.12m (59-5.5), senior Jake Boling took seventh at 16.45m (53-11.75) and junior Beau Whitney took eighth at 16.45m (51-6.25).
On the women's side, redshirt freshman Gabby Midles hit a new personal best of 15.11m (49-7) in a fourth-place effort in the 20-point weight, while sophomore Anne Barnett came in 12th with a toss of 12.62m (41-5).
The remainder of the WSU Open will take place Saturday, with the men's long jump kicking off the field events at 8:30 a.m. and the women's 60m hurdle prelims starting the track events at 10 a.m. The meet is at the WSU Indoor Facility and admission is free.
