Matteson Earns Career-Best 9:38.40 in Men's Steeplechase at Willamette Invite

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Alex Matteson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) of Willamette University set a personal record in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase to lead the Bearcats at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 26. All of the events were held at Charles Bowles Track except for the hammer throw which was contested at Corban University.

Matteson and teammate Carson Herrick (Sr., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) ran unopposed in the men's steeplechase. Matteson's time of 9:38.40 broke his previous best of 9:56.50, set at last year's Northwest Conference Championships.

For the WU women's team, Sami Riggs (Jr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) placed third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.61 seconds. Taylor Weidinger of Oregon State University won the 400 in 58.90 seconds, while Jessy Hart from Western Oregon University was second at 59.44, just 0.17 in front of Riggs.

Oliver Anderson (Jr., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) of Willamette was third in the men's 200-meter dash in 22.84 seconds, as he held off Dylan Heath of Lane Community College, who placed fourth in 22.86 seconds. Christopher Penn of Umpqua Community College was first in 22.16 seconds and Cameron Jipp from LCC claimed second place in 22.59 seconds.

Anderson was fourth in the men's 100-meter dash in 11.15 seconds, just behind Jipp in second (11.10) and Ashton Williams of Bushnell University in third (11.13). Cameron Andrews from Lane CC grabbed first place in 10.85 seconds.

Andres Huante (So., Bloomington, CA/Grand Terrace HS) of the Bearcats took second place in the men's 800-meter run, finishing 0.46 out of first place. Josiah Lee of Lane CC won the race in 1:59.52, while Huante crossed the finish line in 1:59.98.

Huante also helped Willamette earn second place in the men's 4 x 400-meter relay, as the Bearcats recorded a time of 3:34.30. Huante ran the second leg following the leadoff lap by Simon Kidder (So., M, Bend, OR/Summit HS). Jeremy Falk (Sr., Davis, CA/Davis HS) ran the third leg and Anderson provided the anchor leg. Lane CC grabbed first place in the relay in 3:27.58. Running for LCC were Jaylen Russell, Dylan Murray, Dominic Langley, and Andrews.

Other Top Results for the Bearcats

Herrick took second place in the men's steeplechase with a time of 10:58.78. It was the second time Herrick has competed in the steeplechase.

Katherine Thornton (So., Reno, NV/Reno HS) took fourth place in the women's 400-meter hurdles as she registered a time of 1:09.23.

Eric Kaszycki (Jr., Santee, CA/Santana HS) earned fourth place in the men's hammer throw. His top mark during the competition was 130' 2".

Simon Kidder (So., M, Bend, OR/Summit HS) was fifth in the men's 400-meter dash in 52.32 seconds. Falk placed sixth in the 400 at 53.95 seconds.

In the women's hammer throw, Avery Mickelsen (Sr., Ephrata, WA/Ephrata HS) placed sixth with a top distance of 123' 7". Tenley Grant (Fy., Longview, WA/Kelso HS) was seventh with a personal record of 120' 11" and Leanne Machado (Jr., Pendleton, OR/Pendleton HS) was eighth at 117' 1".

Albert Ramon Jr. (Sr., Hesperia, CA/Northview HS) was seventh in the men's 100-meter dash in a personal record of 11.38 seconds. His previous top time was 11.69 seconds at the Willamette Opener in 2020.

Gabriel Regimbal (Sr., Bellingham, WA/Squalicum HS) placed eighth in the men's 5,000-meter run at 16:10.07 and Antonio Barrientos (Fy., Dallas, OR/Dallas HS) was eighth in the men's 800-meter run at 2:06.41

Samantha Waters (Jr., Kalispell, MT/Flathead HS) claimed a personal record and finished eighth in the women's discus at 109' 8". Her previous best was 108' 0" at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual earlier this month.

Team Scores

The Bearcats placed third in the men's team standings and fifth in the women's team standings. Lane CC won the men's team title with a score of 205. Western Oregon was second at 129, with Willamette in third at 66. The University of Oregon Running Club was fourth at 49, with Umpqua CC in fifth at 42, Bushnell in sixth at 29, Southwestern Oregon Community College in seventh at 21, Corban in eighth at 10, and Mount Hood Community College in ninth with three points. Oregon State took the women's team title at 166 points. Western Oregon followed in second with 151, while Lane CC was third at 117. Bushnell placed fourth at 47, Willamette earned fifth place at 24, and Mount Hood CC was sixth at 23. SW Oregon CC was seventh at 12, Umpqua CC was eighth with eight points, and the UO Running Club was ninth with three points.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats are scheduled to compete at the Linfield Jen Boyman Memorial Invitational on April 2. The meet will be held at Maxwell Stadium in McMinnville, Oregon.