By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University athletes Melissa Scott (So., Tustin, CA/Beckman HS) and Keaton Beckmann (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) held leads in the heptathlon and decathlon, respectively, at the end of the first day of multi-event competition at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual on Tuesday, March 13 at Charles Bowles Track. Scott topped the heptathlon after four events with a score of 2,109 points. Beckmann was first in the decathlon after five events with 3,449 points.
Five athletes are competing in the heptathlon and four athletes are participating in the decathlon. The heptathlon and decathlon will conclude on Wednesday, March 14, with the first of the remaining events starting at 3 p.m. (PDT). Also on Wednesday, the men's hammer and women's hammer will be held at 4:30 p.m. behind the Math Learning Center at 1850 Oxford Street.
Willamette and Corban will complete their dual meet on Thursday, March 15 with all of the action at Charles Bowles Track. Field events will start at 3:30 p.m. (PDT) and running events will begin at 3:40 p.m. The final running events will be the women's 4 x 400-meter relay race at 6:10 p.m. and the men's 4 x 400-meter realy race at 6:15 p.m.
Scott won the first two events in the heptathlon. She placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.80 seconds, just over one second in front of Cara Courtney from Corban, who was second in 17.83 seconds. Scott registered the top high jump result at 4' 10.50". Sara Falardeau of Corban was second at 4' 8.25". Scott earned 619 points in the hurdles and added 610 points in the high jump.
To complete the day, Scott placed third in the shot put at 25' 11.50" for 394 points, and she took fourth in the 200-meter dash at 29.94 seconds for 486 points. Falardeau won the shot put with a toss of 29' 4.75" worth 462 points. Grace Crookham-Guy (Fr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) of Willamette won the 200-meter dash in 28.18 seconds for 617 points.
Scott's 2,109 points gave her a 114-point lead at the end of the day. Falardeau was second with 1,995 points and Courtney was third with 1,821 points. Lauren Woodworth placed fourth for the Warriors with 1,659 points. Crookham-Guy was fifth with 1,485 points despite not recording a mark in the high jump.
Beckmann built his lead in the decathlon by winning three of the five events on Tuesday. He earned the best time in the 100-meter dash at 11.13 seconds, just 0.15 away from Willamette's top 10 in the 100. Brian Peck (So., Reno, NV/Reno HS) of Willamette was second in 11.71 seconds. Beckmann received 832 points for the winning time, while Peck attained a score of 709. Beckmann prevailed in the men's long jump with a leap of 21' 8" for 720 points. Reagan Shira of Corban was second at 20' 9.75" for 661 points.
In the men's 400-meter dash, Beckmann was the fastest at 50.33 seconds for 799 points. Willamette's Riley Burton (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep) took second at 51.53 seconds for 745 points. Shira won the shot put with a distance of 35' 8.75". Peck won the high jump at 5' 11.25", good for 636 points.
Beckmann placed third in the shot put and the high jump. His top mark in the shot put was 34' 4" for 513 points. He cleared 5' 8.75" in the high jump to gather a score of 585 points.
When the five events on Tuesday were completed, Beckmann owned a 304-point margin in first place with 3,449 points. Shira was second with 3,145 points and held a two-point edge on Peck, who was third with 3,143 points. Burton was fourth with 2,887 points.
