By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Its time for the start of the 2018 track and field season. For the Willamette University Bearcats, that means hosting the Willamette Opener this weekend and also hosting two other meets later this month. The season will get underway with the Willamette Opener at the Charles Bowles Track on Saturday, March 3. Field events will begin at 10 a.m. (PST), with running events starting at 11 a.m.
All of the events on Saturday will be contested at the Charles Bowles Track, except for the men's and women's hammer throw. The hammer events will be held behind the Math Learning Center at 1850 Oxford Street.
Later in the month, the Bearcats will host nearby rival Corban University in the Willamette vs. Corban Dual from March 13-15. The Willamette Invitational, a long-time tradition for the Bearcats and other teams throughout the region, will be held at the Charles Bowles Track on March 24.
The Willamette Opener will feature the Bearcats, as well as competitors from University of Portland, Western Oregon University, Colorado College and Corban, as well as several running clubs.
Willamette begins the season with several key returning athletes who have competed at the NCAA Championships in cross country and/or track and field. The list includes Hannah Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Jewell Sparks (Sr., San Francisco, CA/Lick Wilmerding HS), Keith Carlson (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA//Bainbridge HS), and Michael Montague (So., San Diego, CA/Canyon Crest Academy).
Sparks competed at the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the women's 400-meter hurdles. She placed 19th in the nation. Her top time of the season was 1:02.16 at the Portland Twilight on May 12. Sparks is ranked second on Willamette's all-time list in the 400-meter hurdles.
Swanson ran at the 2016 NCAA Track and Field Championships and placed 13th in the women's 1,500-meter run. Her top time in the 1,500-meter run was set at 4:33.03 during the Portland Twilight on May 15, 2016. Swanson has competed at three NCAA Championships in cross country (2014, 2015, 2017). She placed 95th out of 279 runners at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Carlson and Montague made their first trips to the NCAA Championships in cross country this past fall. Last spring, Carlson was fourth and Montague took sixth place at the Northwest Conference Championships in the men's 5,000-meter run. Carlson placed seventh and Montague was 10th in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NWC Championships. Carlson's top times are 15:27.28 in the 5,000 and 9:50.53 in the steeplechase. Montague has registered career-best times of 15:33.48 in the 5,000 and 10:03.01 in the steeplechase.
Head Coach Matt McGuirk is in his 15th season as the head coach of Willamette's track and field teams. He is in his 19th year on the coaching staff.
