By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University track and field teams will open the 20201 track and field season by taking on crosstown rival Corban University at the Charles Bowles Track on Saturday, March 20. The Willamette vs. Corban Dual is set to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT) with track events and the jumps. Throwing events will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be held on Corban's campus. You can follow Live Results throughout the meet.

Men's and women's races on the track will include the 5,000-meter run, 1,500-meter run, 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, and 200-meter dash. Jumping events, which will be held at Charles Bowles Track, will feature men's and women's competition in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. The throwing events at Corban will include the men's and women's shot put, hammer throw, and discus throw.

Leading Willamette's list of returning student-athletes is Keaton Beckmann (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS), who competed in the decathlon at the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships. Beckmann placed 11th in NCAA with a personal record of 6,519 points. Earlier in the 2019 season, Beckmann earned All-Northwest Conference honors by placing second in the long jump, third in the javelin throw, and third as part of the 4 x 400-meter relay team.

The Bearcats are excited about returning to action after more than a year. Willamette last competed in track and field at the Willamette Opener on March 7, 2020.