By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Hope Duenas (Jr., Covina, CA/Covina HS) of Willamette University took second place in the discus, and Bearcat runners Emily Evans (Sr., Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS), Hazel Carr (Sr., Seattle, WA/The Northwest School) and Keith Carlson (Sr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) each set personal records during the Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, at the 2019 Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 23.

Duenas registered a top distance of 146' 10" on the last of her three throws in the finals to earn second place in the discus. Her mark was just four inches short of her personal record of 147' 2", set at last year's Willamette Invitational. Lindsay McShane from Oregon State University won the discus with a toss of 156' 11".

In the 12th Annual Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, Evans set a personal record by completing the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase while finishing fifth in 11:40.07. She reduced her time by 13.22 seconds from her previous best of 11:53.29 at the 2018 Northwest Conference Championships.

Carr followed up with a personal-best time of 4:48.82 in the women's 1,500-meter run. She placed 11th out of 23 runners in the event. Courtney Beard of Linfield, who placed eighth in 4:44.71, was the only other NCAA Division III runner in the event. Carr's previous top time was 4:49.44, set earlier this year at the Pacific Preview on March 9.

Carlson lowered his personal record to 4:03.29 in the men's 1,500-meter run and took 11th place out of 27 runners overall. Carlson entered the race with a top time of 4:07.29 at the Pacific Preview two weeks ago. On Saturday, Carlson and Jack Monaghan from University of Puget Sound were in different heats. Monaghan took 10th place overall in 4:02.69.

Other Top Performances for the Bearcats

Saige Swan (Jr., Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) finished sixth in the men's hammer throw with a top throw of 150' 10". He achieved his best mark of the day twice -- in the second round and the third round of the prelims.Connor Giannini (Jr., Veradale, WA/Gonzaga Prep) placed seventh in the men's 200-meter dash in 22.66 seconds and was ninth in the men's 400-meter dash in 51.65 seconds.

Decathlete Brian Peck (Jr., Reno, NV/Reno HS) was seventh in the men's 110-meter hurdles in 16.44 seconds. He was just .03 out of sixth place.

In the men's 400-meter hurdles, RoShaan Rogers (Gr., Roseville, CA/Woodreek HS) took seventh with a time of 59.14 seconds.

Jenette Cabrera (Fr., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) set a personal record in the women's 100-meter dash. She completed the race in 13.58 seconds to lower her top time from 13.61 at this year's Willamette Opener. Sonja Cox-Raman (So., Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) barely missed setting a personal record in the women's 100, as she was timed at 13.33 seconds, just .02 from her top time of 13.31 set less than two weeks ago at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual.

Isabel Duxbury (So., D, Seattle, WA/University Prep) placed eighth in the women's 800-meter run. She achieved a time of 2:22.19.

Avery Mickelsen (Fr., Ephrata, WA/Ephrata HS) established a personal record in the women's discus with a throw of 105' 8". Her previous top mark was 102' 10" at the Pacific Preview.

NOTE:  The women's hammer throw was not completed at the Willamette Invitational due to a thunderstorm on the Corban University campus, where the hammer was held.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats will compete at the Pacific Multi-Event on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Big Moment of the Meet for Willamette

Hope Duenas registered a top throw of 146' 10" in the
women's discus to take second place. She earned her
top throw on her final attempt. Her mark was just four
inches away from her personal record of 147' 2", which
she set a year ago at the 2018 Willamette Invitational.