By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's track and field team won eight of 14 events at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual at the Charles Bowles Track on Thursday, March 21. Most of the events were held at the track on Thursday, except for the hammer throw, which was held on Wednesday, March 20 at Corban University. Seven Bearcats each won an individual event and the Willamette men's team won the 4 x 400-meter relay.

Willamette won the team competition. The Bearcats outscored the Warriors 77-46.

Myles Crandall (Fy., Monmouth, OR/Central HS) of Willamette won the 200-meter dash in 22.93 seconds. Simon Kidder (Sr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of WU was second at 23.08 seconds and teammate Finn Gibson (Fy., New Paltz, NY/New Paltz HS) was third in 23.25 seconds.

Liam Bergevin (Fy., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) took first place for the Bearcats in the 800-meter run with a winning time of 1:58.46. William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) from Willamette was second in 2:00.56.

In the 1,500-meter run, Adam Lewis (Fy., Glendale, CA/Eagle Rock HS) of Willamette held off Luke Harkey of Corban to win with a time of 4:13.57. Harkey claimed second place in 4:13.73. Matthew Nivala (Fy., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) won the 100-meter hurdles for WU in 15.86 seconds.

The 4 x 400-meter relay went to the Bearcats, who rallied on the final two legs to finish the race in 3:25.67. WU trailed after the first two legs, but Caleb Graham (Fy., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) erased most of the difference on the third leg and Gibson moved into the lead about 200 meters into the anchor leg. Corban's team of Harkey, Noah Miller, Jacob Moore, and Josiah del Prado took second in 3:27.34.

Field events won by the Bearcats were the pole vault, triple jump, and discus throw. In the pole vault, Mason Fitzwater (Fy., Snohomish, WA/Monroe HS) cleared 12' 9.50". Kaleb Mcarthur (Fy., Independence, OR/Central HS) registered a mark of 41' 10" in the triple jump. Roan Bashioum (Fy., Salem, OR/North HS) won the discus at 134' 2", while Steeley Mucken (Fy., Silverton, OR/Silverton HS) of WU took second with a top throw of 133' 4".

Mucken also was second in shot put with a toss of 43' 11.25. Will Cordero of the Warriors won the shot put as he registered a distance of 44' 6". Judah Aliifua (So., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) from Willamette was second in the javelin throw at 150' 11".

The Bearcats will host the 2024 Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 23. Field events will begin at 11 a.m. PDT and track events will start at 12 p.m.