Bearcats Win 15 Events in Dual Meet with Corban; Hammer Throw set for Friday

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Nearby rivals Willamette University and Corban University competed in a dual track meet at the Charles Bowles Track on Thursday, March 14. Willamette won seven men's events and eight women's events, and led both the men's team standings and the women's team standings with only the hammer throw remaining. Corban won seven men's events and seven women's events.

The hammer will be contested on Friday, March 15, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Math Learning Center at 1850 Oxford SE.

At the end of events completed on Thursday, the Willamette men's team held a 66-51 advantage on Corban, while the Bearcat women's team owned a 62-57 lead over the Warriors.

Dylan Jones (Fr., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) of Willamette won the men's 200-yard dash in 22.56 seconds. It was the fastest time by a Northwest Conference runner so far this season. Jones led a 1-2-3-4 finish by the Bearcats.

Jossalyn Wright (So., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) recorded a personal record on her way to winning the women's discus throw at 121' 3.75". She broke her previous top result of 117' 5" set less than a week ago at the Lane Preview. Christy Mosier of Corban took second place with a throw of 118' 7.50".

Also for the Bearcat men's team:

Parris Joyce (Fr., Portland, OR/Catlin Gabel School) won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:01.41.

Jacob Shafi (Fr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS) finished first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as he completed the race in 10:18.30. Hunter Matthies (Fr., Moran, WY/Jackson Hole HS) of WU placed second in 10:19.84.

Four Bearcats completed the 10,000-meter run at approximately the same time. Max Craddock (So., Wichita, KS/Wichita Collegiate School) registered the win at 34:32.39.

Matt Merritt (Sr., Aurora, OR/North Marion HS) earned first place in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.91 seconds.

In the shot put, Wyatt Briggs (Sr., Scio, OR/Scio HS) led a 1-2 finish for the Bearcats. Briggs took first place at 44' 6.25", while Tyler Higley (So., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) was second at 42' 0".

The javelin was won by Jordan Loos (So., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS), whose top throw went 168' 7", breaking his previous career best of 167' 0' at the Lane Preview last week.

Carson Kennedy (So., Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) was second in the pole vault. He cleared 10' 11.75". Jordan Hatfield of Corban won the pole vault at 11' 5.75".

Hans Lehndorff (Fr., Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) placed second in the discus with a toss of 133' 3.50". Dane Walker of Corban took first place with a distance of 138' 0.50".

Also for the Willamette women's team:

Elisa Ahern (So., Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) prevailed in the 100-meter hurdles and led a 1-2-3-4 finish by Willamette. Ahern's winning time was 15.95 seconds.

Larissa DeHaas (Sr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelley HS) won the 400-meter hurdles by completing the race in 1:10.50.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Taylor Ostrander (Fr., Soldotna, AK/Kenai Central HS) claimed first place with a time of 11:30.80. Stevie Gildehaus (Jr., Spokane Valley, WA/University HS) was second at 11:44.27.

A total of four Willamette runners reached the finish line within a 0.11 span in the 10,000-meter run. Kellen Friedrich (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) had the winning time at 41:26.95.

Maya Bowton (Fr., Spokane, WA/Ferris HS) was the winner of the pole vault at 9' 0.25". She also took second place in the high jump, clearing 5' 1" to finish behind Sarah Taylor of Corban, who won the event at 5' 3".

With a distance of 35' 8.75", Rebekah Daniel (So., Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap HS) took first place for the Bearcats in the triple jump. Eliya Kohl of Corban was second at 35' 2".

Jameka Townsend (Fr., Okanogan, WA/Okanogan HS) won the javelin throw with a top distance of 122' 8.25".

Wright placed second and Kelsey Engstrom (So., Clinton, WA/South Whidbey HS) was third in the shot put. Mosier from Corban won the event at 40' 4.75", while Wright's top throw covered 34' 11.25" and Engstrom's best toss went 33' 11.50".