By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

EUGENE, Ore. -- Willamette University distance runners Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) and William Hennum (So., Philomath, OR/Liberty HS, Nev.) each took first place in their respective 3,000-meter steeplechase events at the Lane Community College Open on Saturday, March 11. In addition, four Bearcats placed second during the meet, which included 11 women's college teams and running clubs along with 16 men's college teams and running clubs.

Heino won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:36.42. She led a 1-2 finish for the Bearcats, as Grace Kosmicki (Fy., Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) claimed second place in 12:54.40. Hennum was the first runner to reach the finish line in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. He earned a time of 10:06.25 to win by 8.28 seconds over Christopher Rosebrook of Bushnell University (Ore.), who was second at 10:14.53.

Katherine Thornton (Jr., Reno, NV/Reno HS) was second in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Thornton completed the race in 15.48 seconds. She was 0.14 behind the winner, Nia Collins from Southern Oregon University, who was timed at 15.34 seconds.

Kenzie Lee (Fy., Kaneohe, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) of Willamette added a second place finish in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 1:01.79. Janea Robertson of Bushnell took first place in 1:01.42.

In the women's high jump, Whitley Stepp (Fy., Silverton, OR/Regis HS) was second for the Bearcats with a height of 5' 3.25". She attained the same height as winner Rachel Noyce, but first place went to Noyce on jumps. Logan Roberts from Linfield University placed third at 5' 1.00".

Other Top Results for Willamette

Clara Thomas (Fy., Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin HS) took fourth place in the women's 400-meter hurdles at 1:10.05. Simon Kidder (Jr., M, Bend, OR/Summit HS) was sixth in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.15 seconds.

Tenley Grant (Fy., Longview, WA/Kelso HS) placed third in the women's hammer throw, as she achieved a top distance of 146' 6". Annabelle Smith (Fy., Blissfield, MI/Blissfield HS) was third in the women's long jump at 17' 3.25". She was an inch out of second place and just 5.75 inches out of first. Maya Pappas from Bushnell won the event with a leap of 17' 9".

In the men's pole vault, Elijah Jones (Fy, Salem, OR/Central HS) earned fourth place as one of three athletes who cleared 13' 9.75". Jones won the tie-breaker on jumps, while Ashton Wolfe of Umpqua Community College was fifth and Garrett Price, competing unattached, was sixth. Taylor Morehouse, also unattached, won the pole vault at 15' 0".

Kaleb Mcarthur (Fy., Independence, OR/Central HS) was seventh out of 28 entries in the men's long jump. Mcarthur's top mark was 21' 1.25". He was six inches out of fifth place and just 11 inches away from third place.

Willamette placed fourth in the women's team standings, while the Bearcats were eighth in the men's team standings.

Up Next for the Bearcats

The Willamette track and field teams will be in action at two meets on Saturday, March 18. The Bearcats will be represented at the Oregon Preview at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and will also compete at the George Fox Invitational in Newberg, Oregon.