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

SALEM, ORE. -- Six Willamette University athletes have been selected to compete at the 2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University on May 26-28. The Bearcats will be represented in the decathlon and the heptathlon, as well as one field event and four events on the track.

Kimber Mattox (Jr., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) will participate in two events. She was selected in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run. Also competing for the women's team will be Brandi Miller (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) in the heptathlon.

Representing the men's team will be Leo Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) in the 10,000-meter run, Evin Colignon (Sr., Poulsbo, WA/Charles Wright Academy) in the decathlon, David Oppat (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) in the shot put and Stefan Redfield (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) in the 1,500-meter run.

The qualifying time for Mattox in the steeplechase of 10:23.34 is a Willamette record and the top time in the nation in NCAA Division III this season. She recorded the time at the Mt. SAC Relays. Among runners selected for the 5,000, Mattox is ranked 13th with a personal record time of 17:10.28 at the Willamette Invitational.

Mattox also earned an automatic qualifying time of 4:28.11 in the 1,500-meter run. In order to be adequately rested for the steeplechase and the 5,000, Mattox will not compete in the 1,500.

In 2009, Mattox placed sixth at the NCAA Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to earn All-America honors. She also took 12th place in the 5,000-meter run. In 2010, she finished ninth in the steeplechase.

Miller attained a top score of 4,406 points in the heptathlon at the West Coast Invitational earlier this month, as she improved her personal record by 302 points. Her score is tied for 17th on the list of athletes selected to compete in the heptathlon.

Castillo earned his qualifying mark in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 30:38.01 during the Willamette Invitational. He is ranked 16th in the nation this spring.

Colignon grabbed a spot in the decathlon by achieving a score of 6,419 points while winning the Northwest Conference decathlon championship earlier this spring. His score is listed eighth among athletes selected in the decathlon.

It will be Colignon's second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships in the decathlon. Last year, he placed 13th overall and was in the top 10 in three of the 10 decathlon events, including second place in the shot put.

Oppat registered a qualifying throw of 53' 3.75" for the Bearcats in the shot put this spring. He achieved his top distance, which established a new personal record, at the Mount Hood Track and Field Festival. He is ranked 18th in the event.

Redfield will represent WU in the 1,500-meter run after setting a personal record with a time of 3:50.07 at the Oregon Twilight. His time is the sixth fastest in NCAA Division III this season.

Willamette's NCAA Selections:

Women's Team
Kimber Mattox - Steeplechase (10:23.34); 5,000-meter run (17:10.28)
Brandi Miller - Heptathlon (4,406 points)

Men's Team
Leo Castillo - 10,000-meter run (30:38.01)
Evin Colignon - Decathlon (6,419 points)
David Oppat - Shot Put (53' 3.75")
Stefan Redfield - 1,500-meter run (3:50.07)