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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University track and field athlete Bekah Daniel (Jr., Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap HS) was in fourth place in the heptathlon following the first day of competition at the Northwest Conference Multi-Event Championships on Monday, April 14 at the Charles Bowles Track. Daniel, with an overall score of 2,606, was just 162 points out of first place.

Charity Arn of George Fox University was in first place with 2,768 points. She owned a 49-point lead over Maria Green, also from GFU, who was second at 2,719. Dallas Edge of Linfield College was third at 2,619, with a slim 14-point advantage over Daniel in fourth. Christina Dobbins of Whitworth University was fifth at 2,478.

Molly Bond (So., Clarkston, WA/Asotin HS) of Willamette was 11th overall with a score of 2,002. A total of 13 athletes are competing in the heptathlon. Four of the seven events were completed on Monday, with the final three events set for Tuesday.

Daniel set a personal record in both the 100-meter hurdles and the shot put. She barely missed a third personal-best in the 200-meter dash.

In the hurdles, Daniel registered a time of 15.12 seconds, as she lowered her previous stop mark of 15.17, set just nine days ago at the Willamette vs. Concordia Dual. In the shot put, she added just over two feet to her record with a top throw of 34' 8.25".

Daniel closed out the day with a time of 27.13 seconds in the 200-meter dash, just .02 from her personal record.

Edge from Linfield won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.75 seconds, while Arn finished at 14.93. Arn and Green tied for first place in the high jump, as both cleared 5' 2.25". The shot put was won by Green with a toss of 37' 8", while Daniel placed second. Edge was first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.63 seconds.

The best score in one event during the first day of the heptathlon was 875 by Edge in the 100-meter hurdles. Also scoring over 800 in the hurdles were Arn at 851 and Daniel at 826. A total of 13 event scores of 700 or higher were recorded.

Peter Delap of Whitworth topped the standings in the decathlon with 3,552 points. He led by 124 points over Whitworth teammate Stephen Cooper, who was second with 3,428 points. Ezekial Smith of George Fox held third place at 3,378, while Erich VanBergen of GFU was fourth at 3,105. Aaron Koford of Pacific University was fifth at 3,073.

Willamette does not have anyone competing in the decathlon, but there are nine athletes participating from other NWC teams. Five of the events were held on Monday. The remaining five events will take place on Tuesday.

Delap and Smith each won two events. Delap took first place in the long jump at 21' 6.25" and also won the high jump at 6' 6". Smith finished first in the 100-meter dash in 11.29 seconds, which Delap in second at 11.31 seconds. Smith added his second win in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.99 seconds.

Cooper placed first in the shot put. His top throw covered 41' 2.50". Smith was second at 40' 10.25".

The top event score of the day in the decathlon was 797 by Smith in the 100-meter dash. A total of 14 event scores of 700 or more were achieved, with four at 770 or higher.