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

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University senior Steven Collins (Zillah, WA/Zillah HS) improved his top NCAA Division III provisional qualifying distance in the hammer throw during action at the George Fox University Last Chance Meet on Friday, May 20 at Colcord Field. Collins won the hammer with a distance of 179' 8", as he surpassed his previous top mark of 179' 3".

The throw by Collins set a new personal record. He won the event by just over three feet, with Alex Couette from Whitworth University placing second with a throw of 176' 7".

Collins and several other Bearcat track and field athletes with previous performances at -- or near -- the NCAA provisional standards in their respective events competed at the GFU Last Chance. It was the final opportunity for athletes in the Pacific Northwest to register or improve qualifying marks before selections for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships are announced on Sunday (May 22).

In addition to Willamette, other college teams with entries in the meet were George Fox, Whitworth, Pacific University, Linfield College, Pacific Lutheran University and Corban University. Several track and field clubs also participated. With a select group of athletes involved, each event featured between one and five competitors.

David Oppat (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) won the shot put and the discus throw. In the shot put, he registered a distance of 51' 1.75", which met the NCAA provisional standard, but did not add to his top distance this season of 53' 3.75". Oppat's top throw is ranked 18th in NCAA Division III.

Josh Clothier (Sr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) of Willamette took second place in the shot put at 47' 5.25".

Oppat's longest throw in the discus went 152' 9". Jef Wood of the Team Jack Rule club finished second at 148' 5". Clothier was third with a toss of 146' 7".

Ben Donovan (Sr., Minneapolis, MN/South HS) competed unopposed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase for Willamette. He achieved a time of 9:30.47.

For the Willamette women's team, Katie Mariman (Fr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwod HS) placed second among three competitors in the pole vault. Mariman successfully vaulted at 11' 1.75". Sammie Clark, competing unattached, won the pole vault by clearing 12' 9.50". Misty Corwin of Linfield was third at 10' 8".