By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University track and field teams amassed 11 top-three finishes at 2023 Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 25 at Charles Bowles Track. The Bearcats earned four victories, as Sami Riggs (Sr., La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) took first place in the women's 400-meter dash, Whitley Stepp (Fy., Silverton, OR/Regis HS) prevailed in the women's triple jump, Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase during the 14th Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, and Tenley Grant (Fy., Longview, WA/Kelso HS) took first place in the women's hammer throw.
It was a strong showing for the Bearcats at a meet that featured 11 men's college teams and 10 women's college teams. The overall roster for the meet included the NCAA Division I women's team from Oregon State University and NCAA Division II men's and women's teams from Western Oregon University and Northwest Nazarene University. Willamette and several other Northwest Conference teams from NCAA Division III competed, along with teams from three universities in the NAIA, plus one community college and four club teams.
The Bearcats placed third in the women's team standings and took sixth place in the men's team standings.
Top Willamette Women's Results
Riggs won the women's 400-meter dash in 58.22 seconds as she moved into 10th place on Willamette's all-time list. She is one spot behind Andrea May, who set the ninth-fastest time of 57.95 seconds in 2006. Kylie Johnson's time of 58.28 seconds in 2016 previously held 10th place on the list.
On Saturday, Riggs won the 400 by 0.44, as Jada Hurley of Oregon State placed second at 58.66 seconds. Laine DeJong from Northwest Nazarene was third in 58.82 seconds.
Stepp earned first place in the women's triple jump with an overall distance of 33' 1" on her third attempt of the prelims. Lecia Sincere (So., Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS) of Willamette took second place at 32' 11.25". Sincere edged out Nara Van De Grift from Linfield University, who placed third at 32' 9.75".
Heino won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:30.32. Madelyn Hubbs from Pacific University was second in 11:44.67. The women's steeplechase opened the Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, which also included the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, as well as the men's and women's 1,500-meter run and the men's and women's 5,000-meter run.
The women's hammer throw was the meet's final event, and it was won by Grant with a toss of 135' 6". She won by over five feet, as Peyton Santos from Pacific Lutheran University placed second at 130' 3".
In addition to winning the triple jump, Stepp also earned a tie for third place in the women's high jump. She cleared 5' 0.25", which matched the top height successfully attempted by Anneke Moersdorf from Oregon State. Stepp and Moersdorf were tied on jumps. Logan Roberts of Linfield also cleared 5' 0.25", but placed fifth on jumps. Emma Nelson from OSU won the event at 5' 4.25".
Katherine Thornton (Jr., Reno, NV/Reno HS) of Willamette took third place in the women's 100-meter hurdles and was fifth in the women's 400-meter hurdles. In the 100 hurdles, she achieved a time of 15.59 seconds. Moersdorf won the event for Oregon State in 14.79 seconds, and Delaney Bahn from OSU was second in 14.91. In the 400 hurdles, Thornton was timed at 1:09.33 and was just 0.18 out of fourth place.
Top Willamette Men's Results
Three athletes on the Willamette men's track and field team each earned second place in one event.
Simon Kidder (Jr., M, Bend, OR/Summit HS) was second in the men's 400-meter hurdles, as he registered a time of 57.97 seconds. Ronan Krutzikowsky from Linfield won the event in 56.43 seconds.
William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) placed second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. His time was 9:43.11, as he crossed the finish line just 0.67 out of first place. Kai Sorensen from Pacific Lutheran won the men's steeplechase in 9:42.44.
In the men's triple jump, Oliver Anderson (Sr., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) recorded second place with a mark of 45' 0.50" on his last attempt of the finals. Oliver Reis of Mount Hood Community College took first place at 45' 7.25".
Jay Chew (Fy., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) of Willamette joined Heino and Hennum with a top-three finish during the Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance. Chew grabbed third place in the men's 5,000-meter run as he completed the race in 15:31.78. Bordy Kemble from Northwest Nazarene was the winner of the men's 5,000 with a time of 15:04.74.
Also for the Bearcats, Jonas Cherry (Fy., Browns Valley, CA/Marysville HS) earned fourth place in the men's 110-meter hurdles in 16.44 seconds. He was 0.17 out of third place.
Willamette will compete at the Pacific University Multi-Event on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31 at 11 a.m. (PDT) each day. The Bearcats also will participate in the Pacific Open starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 1.
