Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

WWU TRACK: Sehome's Westlin signs with Vikings

Western Washington University track and cross country coach Pee Wee Halsell announced the signing of three high school athletes on Tuesday, June 23, including two that won state championships last spring.

Highlighting that list is Sehome's Nelson Westlin, who won the 2009 Class 2A state title in the discus with a meet record throw of 172 feet, 11 inches. Westlin also placed second in the shot put at state with a personal best throw of 58-8.

Joining Westlin on Western's roster next year will be distance runner Charles "Chip" Jackson from Shorewood and sprinter Chris Ruether from Cashmere.

Ruether, who is the grandson of former Western All-America football player Steve Richardson, ran the third leg on Cashmere's championship 4x400 relay at the Class 1A state meet. He placed second at state in the 200 and fourth in the 100.

Jackson moved from soccer to running as a junior and placed 15th at the Washington Class 4A state cross country meet as a senior. In track, he finished 12th at state in the 3,200 meters.