By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University women's track and field runner Zoe Heino (So., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) earned a career-best time in the 1,500-meter run at the L&C Portland Distance Carnival on Saturday, May 11. The meet was held at Eldon Fix Track on the campus of Lewis & Clark College and provided athletes with an opportunity late in the season to qualify for national championship meets.

Heino completed the 1,500 in 4:49.60, as she broke her previous top time by 1.83 seconds. Her fastest time prior to Saturday was 4:51.43 at the 2023 Northwest Conference Championships last spring.

In Saturday's race, Heino placed 11th and was the top finisher from NCAA Division III. Willamette teammate Morgan Shaw (Fy., Redmond, OR/Ridgeview HS) was 14th with a time of 5:02.26.

Willamette is scheduled to participate in the GFU Last Chance Meet on Thursday, May 16 at Stoffer Family Stadium in Newberg, Oregon.