Sports...briefly

Neff, of White Salmon, helped the Vikings take the team title at the 19th annual University of Puget Sound J.D. Shotwell Classic April 10.

He did that by winning the 400-meter run in a GNAC season-best time of 49.42 seconds and running a sub-50 third leg on Western's 4x400 realy entry that posted a winning time of 3:22.41.

Neff, who also has WWU's best time of 22.79 in the 200, shared the weekly honor with Western Oregon University discus thrower Isiah Haines.

Women's Track & Field:

Lyle graduate Lindsey Blaine, a freshman at Purdue University, scored an NCAA Mideast Regional qualifying mark when she won the javelin competition March 27 at the Purdue Invitational.

Blaine threw the spear 149 feet, 4 inches to start her first outdoor season with a victory on the W. Lafayette, Ind., campus.

In her last two meets, Blaine has thrown 162-0 for fifth place at the 77th Texas Relays in Austin, and 150-9 for third at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn.

Washington State University sophomore Jenna Dean qualified for the NCAA West Regional championships in the javelin April 3.

Dean, of Glenwood, finished second at the Bronco Invitational in Boise, Idaho, with a personal-record throw of 150 feet, 8 inches.

Last Saturday, April 10, Dean won the javelin competition at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley, Calif. Her best throw traveled 148-2.

Jordan Graeme, a freshman at Eastern Washington University, fired the javelin 142 feet, 5 inches, April 9 to post an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the event.

The Klickitat graduate's effort came during the 33rd Pelluer Invitational in Cheney. She also placed 11th in the high jump (4-11.5).

Also competing there was Columbia High School graduate MaryAnn Graves.

The University of Idaho junior placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.25), fifth in the javelin (121-9) and 13th in the shot put (33-7.25).

Little League:

White Salmon Community Youth will hold Opening Day ceremonies for the 2004 season on Saturday, April 24, on the Center Street baseball field.

The program starts at 10 a.m.--not at 11 as previously reported--with introduction of all local teams.

Collegiate Softball:

Central Washington University freshman Mallory Holtman has been tearing the cover off the ball this spring, helping the Wildcats to a 17-12 record.

Through April 10, the Columbia High graduate was batting a team-best .410 (34/83) in 28 games played. She also led CWU with 12 extra-base hits, 13 multi-hit games, 53 total bases and 21 runs.

In the 27 games Holtman has started, the Wildcats are 16-11; they are 16-10 when she plays first base and bats third (she's gotten 26 of her 34 hits when she starts and hits in those positions).