June 11, 2008

Live Results

DES MOINES, Iowa - Senior Justin Johnson opened the NCAA Championships for Cal State Northridge and is ninth in decathlon while Reindell Cole and Desirae Gonder both advanced on Wednesday.

Johnson scored 3,915 points and is in ninth-place after the first day of the decathlon. He trails leader Ashton Eaton of Oregon by 374 points heading into Thursday's final day of competition. Johnson won the high jump after clearing a height of 6-9.75 (2.08) to earn 878 points. He opened the day with with a time of 11.25 in the 100 meters to finish 11th (806 pts), jumped 6.87 in the long jump to place eighth (783 pts), finished 19th in the shot put at 40-8.75 (12.41) to earn 631 points and wrapped up day one with a 10th-place finish in the 400 meters in a time of 49.95 to pick up 817 points.

In the men's long jump on Wednesday, freshman Reindell Cole finished seventh in qualifying with a best of 25-7.50 (7.81). He is one of 12 to move on to Thursday's final. Cole's best of the day came on his second jump of the preliminary round. Another freshman Ngonidzashe Makusha of Florida State posted the best mark of the day at 26-6.25 (8.08).

In the women's high jump, sophomore Desirae Gonder tied for the top spot at 5-9.75 (1.77) and advanced to Friday's event final. Gonder passed at the first height (1.70), cleared 1.74 on her second attempt then cleared 1.77 on her first attempt to advance.

Sophomore Derek Cooper finished 16th in the men's discus after throwing 167-11 (51.18). His mark came up well short of his season-best 186-5 (56.83).

Junior Bradley Ike ran 10.89 to finish 21st in the men's 100 meters and Shelese Ruffin ran 55.37 in the women's 400 meters to finish 26th. Both times were well off their lifetime-bests as both made their first appearance in the championships.

- GO MATADORS -