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

SALEM, Ore. -- Keith Carlson (So., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) set a personal record and took third place in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 25 at Charles Bowles Track. Hannah Swanson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) earned fourth place in the "A" Section of the women's 1,500-meter run.

Carlson registered a time of 9:50.53 in the men's steeplechase to lower his career-best by more than six seconds. His previous top time of 9:57.29 was earned earlier this month in the Willamette versus Corban Dual.

In Saturday's race, Carlson trailed only Joseph Horen from University of Portland, who took first place in 9:13.48, and Kaleb Korta from University of Alaska-Anchorage, who placed second at 9:25.60.

Swanson's time in the "A" Section of the women's 1,500 was 4:44.89. The winner of the 1,500 was Nicole Maurmann from Western Oregon University at 4:40.60. Natalie Smith from University of Portland was second at 4:42.51, and Maddy Lyons, also from Portland, was third at 4:42.97.

Both Carlson and Swanson competed during the 10th Annual Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, which included the men's steeplechase, as well as the men's and women's "A" Sections in the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter races.

The WU women's 4 x 100-meter relay team finished second in 49.67 seconds. Alaska-Anchorage won the race in 47.40 seconds. Running for the Bearcats were Sallie Tucker (Fr., Buena Vista, CO/Buena Vista HS), Jewell Sparks (Jr., San Francisco, CA/Lick Wilmerding HS), Maura Forbush (Sr., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) and Teneah Rushen (Jr., Portland, OR/Franklin HS).

Willamette's RoShaan Rogers (Jr., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) was fifth in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.16 seconds.

Sparks provided the Bearcats with a personal record of 1:05.40 in the women's 400-meter hurdles. She took sixth place in the event. Her previous best was 1:05.59 at the 2016 West Coast Invitational.

Athletes broke Charles Bowles Track records in five women's events during the meet.

Genna Settle established a new record in the 200-meter dash. She won the event in 24.09 seconds. Also finishing under the old record were Venessa D'Arpino from Oregon State University in 24.17 seconds and Kerissa D'Arpino who ran unattached in 24.27 seconds. The previous record was 24.50 seconds by Mary Cross of Alaska-Anchorage in 2016 and Jamie Ashcroft of Alaska-Anchorage in 2015.

Venessa D'Arpino set a new record in the 400-meter dash, as she won the event in 54.73 seconds. The old record was 55.34 seconds by Althea Johnson in 2004.

The Western Oregon 4 x 400-meter relay team broke the record in 3:49.01. The old mark was 3:52.74 by Oregon State in 2016.

McKenzie Warren of Concordia University (Ore.) won the women's shot put and improved on her own track record with a distance of 56' 7.75". Her old record was 53' 7.75" last season.

In the javelin, Bailey Dell from Northwest Christian University (Ore.) set the record in the javelin throw with a winning toss of 162' 6". The previous top distance was 155' 4.75" by Kathryn Walker of St. Martin's University (Wash.) in 2015.

Other Top Performances for Willamette

Elijah Hall-Crockett (Fr., Phoenix, AZ/Cesar Chavez HS) tied for fourth place in the men's high jump by clearing 5' 11.50". Tupre Wickliff of Clark College (Wash.) won the high jump at 6' 3.50". Hall-Crockett also took sixth in the men's triple jump at 40' 2.75".

Jack Kobylka (Jr., Napa, CA/Vintage HS) of WU was third in the "B" Section of the men's 1,500-meter run. His time was 4:02.24.

Josh Martin (Fr., Medford, OR/St. Mary's School) achieved a top throw of 41' 11.50" in the men's shot put. He placed 10th overall. Martin was sixth in the hammer throw at 131' 2".

Teneah Rushen (Jr., Portland, OR/Franklin HS) was 12th in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 12.75 seconds. In the women's 200-meter dash, Forbush was timed at 26.75 seconds and Rushen finished the race in 27.05 seconds.

Forbush finished eighth in the women's 400-meter dash. She was timed at 58.92 seconds.

Melissa Scott (Fr., Tustin, CA/Beckman HS) placed eighth in the women's 100-meter hurdles. She completed the race in 15.82 seconds.

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette will participate in two meets next weekend. The Bearcats will compete at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, as well as the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational at Linfield College on Saturday.