2009-10 Track & Field News

Season
Six Willamette Track and Field Athletes Earn All-Academic Honors
Six Willamette Track and Field Athletes Earn All-Academic Honors

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Platano is Chosen Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America
Platano is Chosen Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior distance runner Chris Platano (Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point HS) of Willamette University has been named Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America as chosen by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Platano was named to the College Division Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Team.

Symmonds Finishes Second in 800 at Adidas Grand Prix
Symmonds Finishes Second in 800 at Adidas Grand Prix

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nick Symmonds '06, who competed for Willamette University in track and field and cross country from 2002-03 through 2005-06, took second place in the 800-meter run against a strong field at the Adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 12. Symmonds registered a time of 1:45.05.

Platano, Mattox Earn First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Honors
Platano, Mattox Earn First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Honors

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University runners Chris Platano and Kimber Mattox have been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Platano was named to the College Division Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Team and Mattox was named to the College Division Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team.

Mattox Finishes Ninth in Steeplechase at NCAA Championships
Mattox Finishes Ninth in Steeplechase at NCAA Championships

BEREA, OHIO -- Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) of Willamette University took ninth place in the field of 18 runners in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, May 28. Mattox recorded a time of 10:48.16.

Colignon Completes First Day of NCAA Decathlon
Colignon Completes First Day of NCAA Decathlon

BEREA, OHIO -- Willamette University track and field athlete Evin Colignon (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) completed the first day of the decathlon in 13th place at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 27 at George Finnie Stadium. Colignon's highest finish in the first five events was second place in the shot put with a throw of 43' 8

NCAA Championships are Set to Start in Track and Field
NCAA Championships are Set to Start in Track and Field

BEREA, OHIO -- The 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships are ready to begin on Thursday, May 27 at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and will continue through Saturday, May 29. Willamette University will be represented by Evin Colignon (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) in the decathlon and by Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Mattox and Colignon are Selected for NCAA Championships
Mattox and Colignon are Selected for NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Willamette University athletes Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) and Evin Colignon (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) have been selected as entries in the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Bearcat Track and Field Teams are #3 in West Region Index
Bearcat Track and Field Teams are #3 in West Region Index

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's and women's track and field teams are ranked #3 in this week's West Region Team Index for NCAA Division III, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 19. Whitworth University remained #1 in the men's West Region rankings, while California Lutheran University remained #1 in the women's rankings.

Redfield Earns Provisional Qualifying Time in 1,500 Meters
Redfield Earns Provisional Qualifying Time in 1,500 Meters

SALEM, ORE. -- Stefan Redfield (Jr., Sisters, OR/Sister HS) of Willamette University achieved an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time in the 1,500-meter run and improved his personal record by more than two seconds with a time of 3:53.30, during the WU Last Chance on Tuesday, May 18 at the Charles Bowles Track.

WU Last Chance is Tuesday at the Charles Bowles Track
WU Last Chance is Tuesday at the Charles Bowles Track

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University track and field teams will host the annual WU Last Chance on Tuesday, May 18 at the Charles Bowles Track in Bush's Pasture Park. A total of approximately 100 entries have been received for the meet.

Clothier Records Provisional Qualifying Throw in Shot Put at 50' 10.25
Clothier Records Provisional Qualifying Throw in Shot Put at 50' 10.25"

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University throwers Josh Clothier (Jr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) and Trevor Bassett-Smith (Sr., Keizer, OR/McNary HS/Western Oregon Univ.) each recorded an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying mark on Thursday, May 13, as the Bearcats hosted three area teams at the Charles Bowles Track. Also competing in the meet were George Fox University, Linfield College and Western Oregon University.

Willamette Track and Field Teams Maintain Rankings in West Region Index
Willamette Track and Field Teams Maintain Rankings in West Region Index

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's track and field teams retained their rankings from a week ago in this week's West Region Team Index for NCAA Division III, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 12. The Willamette women's stayed at #2 in the West Region Index and the Bearcat men's team continued to be ranked #3.

Mattox Achieves Provisional Qualifying Time in 1,500-Meter Run at Oregon Twilight
Mattox Achieves Provisional Qualifying Time in 1,500-Meter Run at Oregon Twilight

EUGENE, ORE. -- Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) of Willamette University recorded an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time in the women's 1,500-meter run at the Oregon Twilight on Saturday, May 8. Mattox earned a time of 4:36.06, which was well under the provisional standard of 4:38.50.

Rebol and Bassett-Smith Win Events at Mt. Hood Twilight
Rebol and Bassett-Smith Win Events at Mt. Hood Twilight

GRESHAM, ORE. -- Nicholas Rebol (Jr., Cottonwood, CA/Red Bluff Union HS) of Willamette University won the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase and teammate Trevor Bassett-Smith (Keizer, OR/McNary HS/Western Oregon Univ.) won the men's hammer throw at the Mt. Hood Twilight on Friday, May 7. Jennifer Luecht (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), also from WU, placed second in the women's 400-meter dash.

Bearcat Women's Team is #2, Men are #3, in West Region Index
Bearcat Women's Team is #2, Men are #3, in West Region Index

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's track and field team is ranked #2 this week in the West Region Team Index for NCAA Division III as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 5. The Willamette men's team is ranked #3 in the West Region.