Track & Field | 3/11/2011 7:47:31 PM

[Results]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Kyle Larson, Matt Kaino, Connor Kasler and Chris Reed of the Western Oregon men's distance medley relay team eached earned All-American honors by placing sixth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, Friday (Mar. 10).

This was the first indoor All-American honor for all four Wolves student-athletes. The team completed the 4,000 meter race in 10:06.48 to earn three team points for Western Oregon.

Kyle Larson started the first leg of the race and finished his 1,200m portion in the time of 3:03.87.

“I came out and was boxed in during the first 800 meters,” said Kyle Larson. “Being taller it is hard to run in a tight area and I was not able to break out till the final 300 meters. It is all hypothetical but being boxed in early may have cost us time and place.”

After Larson was able to fight through the cluster he handed the baton to Kaino. He would complete his leg in 49.61, the third fastest split in the event.

Kasler took over from there to run the next 800m in 1:56.03, before handing it off to anchor Chris Reed. Reed would compete this final 1,600m in 4:16.99. Both Reed and Kasler dealt with contact during the race with other runners.

“It was a very physical race,” commented Larson.

Annan Applebee grabbed a 13th place finish in the women's 800m with a time of 2:16.15. This was the third straight trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships for Applebee.

“Annan came out well but just wasn't able to maintain,” noted Western Oregon head coach Mike Johnson. “She was having a great race through the first 580 meters but then the altitude caught up with her breathing.”

This is the second All-American honor for Reed, who also earned in for cross country in 2009.