UW alum Kyle Nielsen wins in Edmonton; current UW vaulter Jax Thoirs clears 18 feet...

EDMONTON, Alberta--Competing in one of his final domestic meets before heading to Russia for the World University Games, former University of Washington standout Kyle Nielsen won the javelin competition at the Edmonton International Track Classic Saturday at Foote Field.

Nielsen, this year's Canadian national champion, took command early with a first round throw of 245-5 (74.80m), then topped it in the final round with his toss of 250-6 (76.37m) to beat Olympian and fellow British Columbia resident Curtis Moss, who threw 245-3 (74.77m), while Oregon alum Cyrus Hostetler took third with a best of 233-11 (71.31m).

In other events, University of Idaho alum and former UW volunteer coach Christie Gordon was sixth in the 100 hurdles, running a wind-aided time of 13.00, as Lolo Jones won with a time of 12.50.


The NTL series continues Monday with the Harry Jerome Track Classic in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Meanwhile, in Somero, Finland on Saturday, University of Washington rising sophomore Jax Thoirs (left/photo by Paul Merca) became the fifth Husky to clear 18 feet in school history as he finished second at the Somero Pole Vault Carnival.

Thoirs cleared 18-0 1/2 (5.50m) to join Scott Roth, Brad Walker, Garth Willard, and Steve Oravetz on the UW all-time list.

His clearance puts the native of Glasgow, Scotland in a position to compete for Great Britain in the European Under 23 championships in Tampere, Finland July 11-14th.

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