Mattoon held the highest mark heading into the final round and was the last competitor to throw in the event. The competitor ahead of Mattoon surpassed Mattoon's mark with her last throw.

"The girl ahead of [Mattoon] threw farther than Denise on her last attempt," said assistant coach Jeff Bennett. "Denise wont the event on her last throw. She did a great job."

Mattoon not only clinched the national title in the event but also smashed her own school record by nearly six feet. Mattoon's prior best was 57 feet, nine inches completed earlier this year. Her throw of 63 feet, eight and one quarter inches resets her mark and leaves her with the first national championship in the throws for the OC women's track program.

Mattoon will compete in the shot put on Saturday.

In addition to Mattoon's championship, several other OC athletes qualified in their respective events for finals to be held on Saturday, including Silas Kisorio who qualified in both the 800-meter run and mile run events.

Kisorio ran a relaxed 4:16.89 to place second in his heat of the mile and qualify for the finals. Later in the 800-meter run prelims, Kisorio took out in a 1:53.07 to win the first heat and guarantee himself a spot in the finals on Saturday.

Frezer Legesse ran a 2:30.31 1000-meter run to place third in the second heat and qualified for finals in the event by time.

Irene Masai competed in the women's 800-meter run prelims and clocked a 2:24.14 to become the last competitor to qualify for finals by time.

The final day of events at the NAIA Indoor National Track Meet will take place tomorrow with field events starting 10 a.m. and running events beginning at 12 p.m.

-OC-