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

SALEM, ORE. -- Brandi Miller (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/North Valley HS) of Willamette University is in second place after the first day of the heptathlon at the West Coast Invitational held at the Charles Bowles Track.

Competition was completed in the first four events on Wednesday, May 11. The heptathlon will conclude with the final three events on Thursday, May 12, starting at 10:30 a.m. (PDT).

Bridget Johnson, competing unattached, led the heptathlon after four events with 2,681 points. Miller was second with 2,613 points, Nicole Smith from Pacific University was third with 1,944 points and Samantha Nhim (Jr., Tigard, OR/Southridge HS) from Willamette was fourth with 1,926 points.

Miller won the 200-meter dash and took second place in the 100-meter hurdles, the high jump and the shot put. She recorded three personal records along the way.

One of the career-best marks for Miller was in the 200-meter dash, as she finished in 26.36 seconds. Her previous top time in the 200 was 26.87 seconds last season at the 2010 NWC Championships.

Miller also set personal records in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.45 seconds and in the high jump at 4' 8.75". She improved on her top marks, set earlier this year, of 15.49 seconds in the hurdles at the NWC Championships and 4' 8" in the high jump at the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic.

Johnson won three events on Wednesday. She registered the fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.31 seconds, edging Miller by 0.14. She took first in the high jump at 5' 0.25" and was first in the shot put at 34'2.25".

The top score of the day was earned by Johnson with 801 points in the 100-meter hurdles. Miller scored 783 points in the hurdles and achieved 766 points with her winning time in the 200-meter dash.

Nhim, competing in her first heptathlon for the Bearcats, registered her high score of the day in the 200-meter dash. She finished the race in 27.11 seconds to receive 703 points.