Bearcats Deliver Top-Five Performances Across All Events

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University hosted the Willamette Invitational this Saturday, March 28th. There were eight competing teams, including Willamette, as well as a few unattached athletes. The bright, sunny day saw many ups and downs, and more than a few new bests.

To start track events, Adam Lewis and Treyton Marty led the pack in the 3000m Steeple Chase, earning the top two spots with personal bests (PB) of 9:37.01 minutes and 9:44.21 minutes, respectively. In the 4x100m Relay, the men's team unfortuately did not finish due to a missed exchange, allowing the sole competitor Portland State to take the victory. After the relay comes the 1500, Thomas Bernadicou securing second place in this event. In the 110m Hurdles, senior Mason Williams ran a season best (SB) and received fourth place, Brison Speakthunder taking fifth behind him.

In the 400m, the Bearcats overwhelmed their competitiors. Major LeProwse secured second place in 50.40 seconds (PB), followed by Finn Gibson, Cole Beneventi, and Owen Phillips in third through fifth. Marcus Nalls ran for third place in the 100m, while in the 800m, Tim McMahon took second and Bernadicou fourth in his second race of the day.

Willamette comprised a full heat of the 400m Hurdles, securing all top positions. This race saw many season and personal bests. Myles Crandall led the team, ending his race at 54.55 seconds (SB). Williams, Matthew Nivala, Speakthunder, and Kayden Gonzales charged behind him, all achieving personal bests and second through fifth. Caleb Graham finished out the race in sixth. Beneventi earned seventh place in the 200m in 22.679 seconds (SB). In the 5000m, Jay Chew bounded past the finish at 15.25.31 minutes (PB), taking first. To close out track events, the 4x400m Relay finished in 3:31.69 minutes.

In throwing events, Judah Ali'ifua took sixth place in Javelin, while Austin Snodgrass and Roan Bashioum earned third and fourth in Discus. During Shot Put, Snodgrass took second with a throw of 13.59 meters; Bashioum and Grant Sweitzer earned fourth and fifth, respectively. Later in Hammer Throw, the Bearcats took second through sixth. Bashioum led the group, followed by Snodgrass, Parker Hisey, Wyatt Santucci, and Ali'fua.

Niko White dominated Long Jump, securing first place with a distance of 6.91 meters. Kaleb McArthur jumped 6.53 meters (SB) and Gibson Hanowell jumped 6.52 (PB) to land themselves third and fourth place, while Steeley Mucken took fifth overall. Pole Vault saw Elijah Jones in first place and Isaiah Martushev in fourth. Hanowell took sixth in Triple Jump as well, while Carson Naehr and Gibson secured second and third for themselves.

Willamette competes next at the Jenn Boyman Memorial, hosted by Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon on April 4 at 10 am.