Waters is Victorious in Women's Hammer; Beckmann Sets Two Personal Records

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Samantha Waters (So., Kalispell, MT/Flathead HS) won the women's hammer throw for Willamette University, and Keaton Beckmann established two personal records and nearly set a third for the Bearcats, during the Willamette vs. Bushnell Dual, which concluded on Thursday, April 8 at Charles Bowles Track. Waters moved into 11th place on Willamette's all-time list in the women's hammer. Beckmann set career-bests in the men's shot put and discus, while missing a personal record by one-half inch in the high jump.

The Willamette vs. Bushnell Dual began with the hammer throw at Corban University on Wednesday. The other throwing events, as well as all of the running and jumping events were held at Willamette on Thursday.

Waters took first place in the women's hammer with a top distance of 136' 1". She missed 10th on the Bearcats' all-time list by just over a foot. Christina Edholm ranks 10th with a toss of 137' 2" in 2009. During the Willamette vs. Bushnell hammer competition, WU's Avery Mickelsen (Jr./So., Ephrata, WA/Ephrata HS) took second place at 127' 2".

In addition, Mickelsen placed second and Waters was third in the women's discus. Jenae Usselman from Bushnell won the event at 111' 6". Mickelsen followed at 107' 6" and Waters registered a top throw of 103' 5".

Brittany Broughton of WU participated unopposed in the women's high jump. She achieved a mark of 4'7".

Beckmann placed third in the men's shot put with his personal record throw of 38' 9.50". His previous best was 36' 11.50" at the Bearcat Invitational Multi-Event in 2019. Beckmann also placed third in the men's discus against Bushnell with a personal record toss of 118' 8". His top distance prior to Thursday was 105' 0" at the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the decathlon.

The men's discus between Willamette and Bushnell was won by Logan Oakerman for the Beacons at 149' 10". Eric Kaszycki (So., Santee, CA/Santana HS) of WU placed second at 121' 10". The men's shot put was won by Oakerman with a top toss of 47' 4.25".

Beckmann competed unopposed in the men's high jump on Thursday and came close to a personal record by clearing 5' 10.75". His career-best result remained 5' 11.25" from earlier this season in the Willamette vs. Corban Dual #1.

Kaszycki finished behind Kenny Purnell of Corban in the men's hammer throw. Purnell earned a distance of 152' 9". Kaszycki registered a toss of 132' 11" for a new personal record, surpassing his previous best of 123' 0" during this year's first WU vs. Corban Dual.

Winners for the Bearcat women's team on the track were Audrey Piacsek (Jr., Thorp, Washington, Ellensburg HS) and Leila Fischer (Fy., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS). Piacsek placed first in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.70. Fischer prevailed in the women's 1,500-meter run in 5:20.44. Teammate Dana Hamilton (Jr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) was second in the 1,500 at 5:22.44.

In the women's 100-meter dash, Willamette's Jenette Cabrera (Jr., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) earned third place in 13.63 seconds and narrowly missed second place by 0.02. Jordyn Edwards of Bushnell claimed second at 13.1 second. Adrienne Mai of Bushell attained first place in the 100 in 13.47 seconds.

Roscoe McDonald (So., Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) won the men's 800-meter run for Willamette. He led the other five competitors throughout the race and reached the finish line in 2:03.87. Gabriel Regimbal (So., Bellingham, WA/Squalicum HS) of WU took second place in 2:05.93. Also winning for the Willamette men's team was Alex Matteson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS), who placed first in the 1,500-meter run at 4:08.97.

Oliver Anderson (So., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) of WU grabbed second place in the men's 100-meter dash. His time was 11.43 seconds. Jaron Carter of BU won the 100 in 11.08 seconds.

Willamette and Bushnell battled in the men's 4 x 400-meter relay. Bushnell finished first in 3:28.53, with Willamette in second at 3:32.95.

The women's team standings were topped by Willamette with 51 points to Bushnell's 33 points. The Beacons won the men's team scoring with 54 points, while the Bearcats scored 48 points.