By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) took first place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Roan Bashioum (Fy., Salem, OR/North HS) set a personal record in the hammer throw to highlight results for the Willamette University men's track and field team at the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational on Saturday, April 6. The meet was held on Maxwell Field at Linfield University.

Hennum won the steeplechase with a time of 9:49.41. His winning margin was 8.24 seconds. Kellen Ruiz from George Fox University was second at 9:57.65. Adam Lewis (Fy., Glendale, CA/Eagle Rock HS) from Willamette was fifth in 10:10.14.

Bashioum's career-best mark in the hammer went 155' 3" and earned him second place on Saturday. He edged out Noah Meucci of Portland State University, who placed third at 154' 7". Unattached thrower Daniel Coppedge won the hammer at 187' 10".

In addition to Bashioum, three other Bearcats on the men's team registered second place finishes.

Matthew Nivala (Fy., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) was second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.37 seconds. Nivala was 0.01 in front of Jackson McQuain of Clarke College (Wash.), who took third place in 16.38. Also for WU, Jonas Cherry (So., Browns Valley, CA/Marysville HS)  was sixth in the 110 hurdles at 17.05 seconds.

Simon Kidder (Sr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) claimed second place in the 400-meter hurdles in 57.50 seconds. He led a 2-3-4-6 finish by the Bearcats. Caleb Graham (Fy., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) was third in 58.77 seconds, while Mason Williams (Fy., Happy Valley, OR/ Clackamas HS) was fourth in 58.81 seconds, and Cherry took sixth place at 59.02. Nolan Malcomson of Lane CC won the 400 hurdles in 56.73 seconds.

In the 10,000-meter run Jay Chew (So., Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek HS) was second in 33:00.24. Joshua Evans (Jr., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) placed third in 33:16.18. The event was won by RJ Kennedy of Lan CC with a time of 32:30.33.

Kaleb Mcarthur (So., Independence, OR/Central HS) was second for the Bearcats in the triple jump with a mark of 42' 8.75". Mcarthur added a fourth place finish in the long jump at 21' 8". He was one inch out of third place, 2.25 inches out of second place, and 6.25 inches behind the winner, Nick Jenkins of Clark College (22' 2.25").

Willamette athletes placed third and fourth in the 400-meter dash. Finn Gibson (Fy., New Paltz, NY/New Paltz HS) earned third place in 51.02 seconds. Next to Gibson at the finish line was teammate Myles Crandall (Fy., Monmouth, OR/Central HS), who took fourth place in 51.04 seconds. Khalil Gilbert from Everett Community College (Wash.) won the 400 in 50.79 seconds and Larry Trefry of GFU placed second in 50.94 seconds.

Judah Ali'ifua (So., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) of WU placed third in the javelin at 146' 8". Ali'ifua was one inch away from second place.

In the discus, Bashioum was fifth at 130' 5" and Steeley Mucken (Fy., Silverton, OR/Silverton HS) was sixth at 130' 3". Liam Bergevin (Fy., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) of WU was sixth in the 800-meter run with a time of 159.10.

Willamette and George Fox tied for second place out of 12 teams in the overall men's standings with 116 points. Lane CC won the men's competition with 124 points. The Bearcats will host the 2024 Northwest Conference Multi-Event Championships at Charles Bowles Track on Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9.