By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Hope Duenas (So., Covina, CA/Covina HS) from Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Women's Field Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts at the Willamette Opener on Saturday, March 3. It was the opening weekend of the 2018 outdoor track and field season for the Bearcats

Duenas won the discus throw with a top distance of 133' 0" to lead both the NWC and NCAA Division III. Her throw was very close to her personal best of 133' 3" which she set at the 2017 Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational and ranks 10th on Willamette's all-time list.

Also at the Willamette Opener, Duenas earned second place in the hammer throw with a personal record mark of 151' 0" that ranks first in the NWC this year. Her previous best in the hammer was 129' 5" at the John Knight Twilight on April 7, 2017.

The Bearcats put together a solid first weekend of competition and will be back in action at the Chico State Invitational on Saturday, March 10. Action at University Stadium in Chico, California, is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PST).