By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Keaton Beckmann (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) of Willamette University qualified for the finals in two events at the 2021 Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 13, as he registered the second-fastest time in school history in the men's 200-meter dash at 21.82 seconds and completed the men's 100-meter dash in 10.87 seconds. He registered the fastest time of the preliminary heats in both events.
In the 200-meter dash, Beckmann's time was the fastest by a Willamette runner since 1941, when the school record of 21.74 seconds was set by Rex Putnam. Paul Winger previously held the second-fastest time at 21.98 seconds in 2010. Beckmann just missed setting a personal record in the 100-meter dash. His top time of 10.85 seconds, which is ranked fifth all-time at WU, was set less than two weeks ago at the NWC Multi-Event Championships on May 3.
Thursday's schedule included finals in 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 10,00-meter run, and several field events. In addition, preliminary heats were held in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, hurdles, and the 800-meter run. Finals in most events will be held on Friday. Action is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. (PDT).
Beckmann was one of two Bearcats to qualify for the final in the men's 200-meter dash. Oliver Anderson (So., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) also advanced with a personal record time of 22.79 that placed seventh in the prelims.
Also qualifying for the finals were Katherine Thornton (Fy., Reno, NV/Reno HS) in the women's 400-meter hurdles and Sami Riggs (So., La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) in the women's 200-meter dash. Thornton registered the fourth-fastest time of the preliminary heats in the 400 hurdles with a personal record at 1:08.46. Riggs was sixth in the prelims of the 200 with a personal record time of 26.34 seconds.
Audrey Piacsek (Jr., Thorp, Washington, Ellensburg HS) finished fourth and Maggie Chapin (Sr., Buffalo, WY/Buffalo HS) was fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Piacsek completed the race in 11:58.17, while Chapin was timed at 12:02.61. Both runners established a new personal record. Eliza Irish of Pacific University won the event with a time of 11:41.53.
In the men's 3,00-meter steeplechase, Alex Matteson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) of Willamette placed seventh in 9:56.50, as he set a personal record. His previous top time was 9:59 in this year's Willamette vs. Portland Dual. Patrick Adkisson from George Fox University won the steeplechase on Thursday in 9:26.43.
Thornton placed fifth in the women's long jump with a top distance of 16' 3.75". She set a personal record, surpassing her previous best of 16' 1.75", set earlier this year during the Willamette vs. Corban Dual #2. The winner of this year's NWC title was Emily Dubois of George Fox with a mark of 17' 6".
Samantha Waters (So., Kalispell, MT/Flathead HS) of WU placed eighth in the women's hammer throw at 133' 0".
Bearcats Competing this Week
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 14
10:30 a.m. - Men's Discus Throw (Flights and Final) - Eric Kaszycki (Flight 1)
12:20 p.m. - Women's 1,500-meter Run (Final) - Audrey Piacsek
12:50 p.m. - Men's 400-meter Dash (Final) - Jeremy Falk
12:55 p.m. - Women's 400-meter Dash (Final) - Sami Riggs
1:00 p.m. - Men's Triple Jump (Flights and Final) - Oliver Anderson (Flight 2)
1:00 p.m. - Men's Javelin (One Flight and Final) - Keaton Beckmann
1:00 p.m. - Men's 100-meter Dash (Final) - Keaton Beckmann
1:40 p.m. - Women's 400-meter Hurdles (Final) - Katherine Thornton
1:50 p.m. - Men's 200-meter Dash (Final) - Keaton Beckmann, Oliver Anderson
1:55 p.m. - Women's 200-meter Dash (Final) - Sami Riggs
2:05 p.m. - Men's 5,000-meter Run (Final) - Gabriel Regimbal, Alex Matteson
