Andersen Finishes Second in the Nation in the Hammer Throw, Taylor Advances to 800m Finals and McLeod Posts PR in Long Jump on Day Two of the NCAA National Championships

EUGENE, Ore. - Brooke Andersen placed second in the nation in the women's hammer throw, Ashley Taylor won her heat to advance to the finals of the women's 800-meter race and Helena McLeod set a new personal best to finish 20th in the country in the women's long jump as the Northern Arizona University track and field program competed at the second day of the NCAA Outdoor National Championships at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field on Thursday.

Andersen got the day started as she posted a best toss of 72.87 meters in the hammer to finish second overall and earn first team All-American honors. It is the second consecutive year that the redshirt-senior has been named the NCAA's runner up in the event despite improving her mark by 14 feet from nationals the year before. Andersen was edged out by Ole Miss's Janeah Steward for the championship by just five centimeters.

The result ended one of the most storied NAU careers as Andersen will go down as the Northern Arizona and Big Sky Conference record holder along with being recognized as one of the best performers in the event in NCAA history. She recorded the second-best throw in the history of the sport earlier this season.

"Brooke concludes her career at NAU as not just one of the best throwers of the history of the school and conference but as one of the best throwers in the history of Division I track and field ever in this event," director of track and field Michael Smith said. "Her performance today was just one piece of such an incredible career. She made us very proud with her series today."

"When you're coming to the biggest meet of the year and you find a way to access your best at a meet like this it's just a massive accomplishment and something to be very proud of. I know Brooke had her eyes on an NCAA title but that performance she put in today, competing like that and the way she went about doing it was incredible. Being an NCAA runner up is a fantastic accomplishment that she worked so hard for. To get even better than last year's NCAA performance in the way that she has says so much about her and throws coach Nathan Ott and what they've been through. They have my utmost respect."

Taylor was next for the Lumberjacks and advanced to Saturday's finals of the 800-meter race after winning her heat with a time of 2:05.65.

The senior hit the last lap bell in seventh place and went on a charge over the race's last 400-meters. Taylor was forced to the outside of the pack and then outkicked the field down the back stretch to claim the heat's victory.  Her second 400-meter split came in .74 seconds faster than any other competing athlete.

"The rounds require composure and that's the attribute that allowed Ashley to advance through that semifinal," Smith said. "We've talked about her being new to the event and the piece that can be challenging there is experience but in some ways maybe that's leading her to have such control and not overthink what's occurring."

"Being in her second NCAA final in two attempts is a great honor," Smith added, referencing her fourth-place finish in the event at the indoor national championships.

McLeod concluded the evening for the Lumberjacks with a 20th-place finish in the long jump with a new personal best of 6.07 meters.

She was just the second women's long jumper in the program's history to qualify for the Outdoor National Championships and was named an All-American honorable mention with her performance.

"What a massive honor it is to qualify for the national championships with the best athletes in Division I," Smith said. "At an even higher level to come here and execute despite a heighten environment is just huge for an athlete."

"The big thing for Helena at her age and the place that she's in is getting experience at this level," Smith concluded. "She's come so far in a year and the way she executed jumping a personal record at the biggest meet of the season, it doesn't get better than that. This is just the start for her and she made us very proud today."

With the three results Northern Arizona found itself in a tie for 10th in the women's team standings with eight points.

The Lumberjacks will have just one athlete, Andy Trouard, competing in day three of the national championships on Friday. Trouard will take to the track in the final of the men's 5000-meter race at approximately 7:25 p.m. MST.

Complete information on the 2018 NCAA Outdoor National Championship, including streaming (ESPN) and ticket information, can be found here.