Forbush Selected as NWC Women's Track Student-Athlete of the Week

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Sophomore sprinter Maura Forbush (Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Track Student-Athlete of the Week after placing second in the 400-meter dash at the Saints Open on Saturday, March 14.

Forbush registered a personal record time of 58.54 seconds, which is the fastest time in the NWC so far this spring. She moved into 10th place on Willamette's all-time list in the 400 and is ranked second on this year's NCAA Division III performance list. Forbush finished in front of 25 of the other 26 runners, and was just 0.31 behind winner Shanice Lakes of Mount Hood Community College (58.23).

In addition, Forbush competed on Willamette's 4 x 100-meter relay team which finished second in 50.71 seconds.

The Saints Open was held at Earl Klapstein Stadium on the campus of Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore.

Not only is Forbush leading the NWC list in the 400, she also is ranked third in the conference on the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. At the Willamette Opener on March 7, she recorded a time of 12.77 seconds in the 100 and earned a time of 25.80 seconds in the 200.

Willamette's track and field teams will compete again on Thursday, March 19 in a dual meet against crosstown rival Corban University. The hammer throw will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 4:30 p.m. (PST) behind the Math Learning Center at 1850 Oxford SE. On Thursday, the track events will get underway at 3:30 p.m., with the field events starting at 4 p.m.