Mattox Achieves Provisional Qualifying Time in 1,500-Meter Run at Oregon Twilight

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) of Willamette University recorded an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time in the women's 1,500-meter run at the Oregon Twilight on Saturday, May 8. Mattox earned a time of 4:36.06, which was well under the provisional standard of 4:38.50.

Mattox also lowered her personal best by over two seconds from 4:38.25, which she recorded a year ago. She placed 15th in the race on Saturday, running against a competitive field that included eight University of Oregon athletes.

Trevor Bassett-Smith (Sr., Keizer, OR/McNary HS/Western Oregon Univ.), also from Willamette, improved his NCAA provisional mark in the hammer throw. He registered a top throw of 178' 10" to place fourth and set a personal record at the Oregon Twilight.

Bassett-Smith's throw added nearly three feet to his original provisional mark of 175' 11" which he earned at the Willamette Invitational on April 2. He improved to 177' 2" at the Mt. Hood Twilight on Friday (May 7), then added over a foot-and-a-half more on Saturday.

Willamette also received career-best performances from Jennifer Luecht (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) and Jaela Dinsmore (So., Hines, OR/Burns HS) in the women's 200-meter dash and from Christina Edholm (Sr., Pleasanton, CA/Foothill HS) in the women's shot put.

Luecht placed fifth in the 200 with a time of 25.35 seconds, as she edged her previous top mark of 25.36 set earlier this year at the Northwest Conference Championships.

Luecht also took second place in the 400-meter dash at the Oregon Twilight with a time of 58.43 seconds. Alexandria Davidson from Oregon won the event in 55.54 seconds. Luecht previously registered an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 400 during the NWC Meet.

Dinsmore placed seventh in the 200 and finished the race in 25.88 seconds. She lowered her personal record, which she set at 26.02 seconds at the NWC Championships earlier this spring.

Edholm placed fourth in the shot put at the Oregon Twilight with a throw of 40' 7.75". She improved on her previous career best of 40' 3.50", set on April 8 at the John Knight Twilight.

Two other Willamette athletes achieved top five finishes at the Oregon Twilight. Josh Clothier (Jr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) was fourth in the men's shot put with a toss of 48' 8". David Oppat (Jr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) took fifth in the men's discus at 148' 3".

The personal records set on Saturday also moved several Bearcats up the Willamette Top 10 lists in their respective events. Bassett-Smith advanced into third on the men's Top 10 in the hammer throw. Luecht remained fourth on the women's Top 10 in the 200-meter dash.

Edholm is now sixth in the women's hammer throw. Mattox is seventh in the women's 1,500-meter run.

Willamette will host the WU Last Chance on Tuesday, May 18 at the Charles Bowles Track. The meet will be the final opportunity for the Bearcats and other athletes to achieve or improve qualifying marks for the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championships.