NAMPA, Idaho (May 3) -- Sophomores Jason Caryl (Omak) and Brandon Roddewig (Fall City/Mount Si HS) finished second and third in the decathlon, highlighting a strong contingent of Central Washington University track and field athletes at the 2011 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Multi-Event Championships that concluded Tuesday in Nampa, Idaho.

Caryl scored 6,234 points, and Roddewig was just nine points behind with 6,225, in the 10-event decathlon that counts as part of the GNAC Championship meet. Caryl, Roddewig, and fourth-place finisher Andy Loscutoff of Western Oregon (6,224) were separated by just 10 points. Nate Johnson of Seattle Pacific, who was in sixth place after five events, rallied to win the decathlon with 6,373 points.

Caryl, Roddewig, and seventh-place finisher Scott Hunter (Hilo, Hawaii) combined to score 16 team points for the Wildcats, who will take a six-point lead over Western Oregon into the duration of the championship meet next Friday and Saturday (May 13-14). Roddewig won or tied for first place in three of the 10 events, posting the best mark in the high jump, javelin, and tying with Hunter for the best mark in the pole vault.

A total of five Wildcats competed in the decathlon, with sophomores Thomas Steinke (Leavenworth/Cascade HS) and Andrew Venema (Bickleton) placing 10th and 11th. Steinke accumulated 5,477 points and Venema 5,442 over the two-day multi-event championship.

In the women's heptathlon, Central Washington had just two competitors -- junior Siri Berg (Burien/Highline HS) and freshman Melanie Davis (Pasco), who finished 13th and 17th, respectively. Berg finished with 3,433 points over the seven events, while Davis totaled 3,244.

Ali Worthen of Seattle Pacific won the heptathlon with 4,904 points, helping the Falcons place first through fourth en route to accumulating 29 team points.