Mattox and Donovan Win Steeplechase Events at NWC Championships

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University runners Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell University) and Ben Donovan (So., Minneapolis, MN/South HS) have won the 3,000-meter steeplechase events during the first day of the Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships at Whitworth University on Friday, April 23. Mattox led the Bearcats to a 1-4-6-7 finish in the women's race, while Donovan spearheaded a 1-2-7-8 result for WU in the men's race.

Donovan also earned a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships later this spring. He won the men's steeplechase with a time of 2:24.70 just under the provisional standard of 2:25.00.

Mattox won the women's steeplechase by nearly 26 seconds with a time of 11:36.44, as she easily outdistanced the field. Earlier this season, she recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 10:48.71 that ranks third in the nation in Division III this year.

In addition to Mattox, other top finishers for Willamette in the women's steeplechase were Maya Velez (Sr., Oakland, CA/Skyline HS) in fourth place, Sarah McSweeney (So., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) in sixth place and Amanda Tamanaha (Fr., Honolulu, HI/St. Andrews Priory School) in seventh place.

Nicholas Rebol (Jr., Cottonwood, CA/Red Bluff Union HS) took second behind Donovan in the men's steeplechase. Rebol's time was 9:27.22, as he held off Cameron Eberhart of George Fox University by 0.13 seconds. Eberhart was third in 9:27.35.

Also placing for Willamette in the men's steeplechase were Chris Platano (Sr., Myrtle Point, OR/Myrtle Point HS) in seventh and Joe Donovan (So., Minneapolis, MN/South HS) in eighth.

The first day of the NWC Championships also featured finals in several field events and preliminary rounds in many of the running events.

An additional story will be posted later.