By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University track and field athletes Oliver Anderson (Sr., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) and Whitley Stepp (Fy., Silverton, OR/Regis HS) each took first place in an event at the Whitworth Indoor Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 11. Anderson won the men's triple jump, while Stepp won the women's high jump. It was Stepp's second victory in as many meets.

Last week, Stepp won the high jump at the George Fox Indoor Meet #1 by clearing 5' 3.75". At Whitworth's meet, Stepp again cleared 5' 3.75" for her top mark. She took first place on fewer jumps as three other athletes also were successful at 5' 3.75". On jumps, the order of placement behind Stepp was Giovanna Rhoads of Washington State University in second place, Katja Davidowske from the University of Idaho in third place, and Kaylee Sowle of Washington State in fourth place. A total of 24 athletes competed in the women's high jump.

Anderson's winning mark in the men's triple jump was 45' 5.00". He won by 5.25 inches over Astley Davis from Southern Utah University, who was second with a distance of 44' 9.75". Kaleb Mcarthur of Willamette was 10th in the triple jump at 41' 6.50". The men's triple jump featured 21 athletes.

In the women's mile run, Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) placed 24th out of 56 runners. Her time was 5:26.94. Jay Chew (Fy., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) of Willamette finished 20th out of 47 entries in the men's mile run. Chew completed the race in 4:31.01.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, May 4, when they host the Willamette Opener at the Charles Bowles Track. Meet time is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PST).