Winger Receives NWC Men's Track Student-Athlete of the Week Recognition

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior runner Paul Winger (Bonney Lake, WA/Bonney Lake HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Men's Track Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts at the Oregon Preview on Sunday, March 18. The Oregon Preview was hosted by the University of Oregon at Hayward Field in Eugene.

It is the second time this season that Winger has been chosen for the award. He also earned NWC Student-Athlete of the Week recognition for his success at the Willamette Opener on March 3.

Winger placed third in the 200-meter dash at the Oregon Preview with a time of 22.42 seconds. He was just 0.20 out of second place. He took sixth place in the 400-meter dash, earning a time of 49.68 seconds. He finished 0.06 out of fifth place and was only 0.19 out of third place in the 400.

He is ranked in both events on the national performance list for NCAA Division III this season. Winger is fifth in the nation in the 400-meter dash with a top time of 49.04 at the Willamette Invitational. He is listed 16th in the 200-meter dash after recording his top time so far this year at the Oregon Preview.

The Bearcat track and field teams will return to action on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 when they host the Willamette Invitational at the Charles Bowles Track. Competition will begin at 3 p.m. (PDT) on March 30 and will start at 10 a.m. on March 31.