Oppat Improves NCAA Qualifying Distance in Shot Put at Willamette Invitational

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University hosted the final day of the Willamette Invitational at the Charles Bowles Track on Saturday, April 2. A total of 41 college teams and running clubs with a total of 1,078 entries participated in the two-day event.

Leading Willamette on the second day of the meet was David Oppat (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS), who placed second in the shot put with a throw of 51'7". He finished 1.5 inches behind the winner, Jason Slowey of Western Oregon University at 51'8.50".

Oppat improved on his NCAA Division III provisionally qualifying mark of 51'5.50" recorded earlier this season.

For the Bearcat women's team, Erynn Rebol (So., Cottonwood, CA/Red Bluff Union HS) lowered her personal record by nearly three seconds in the 800-meter run. She took fourth place in 2:17.20. Alma Garcilazo from Eastern Oregon University won the 800 with a time of 2:13.96.

Rebol's previous career-best in the 800-meter run was 2:20.04 at the Willamette Opener on March 5.

Jaela Dinsmore (Jr., Hines, OR/Burns HS) of Willamette placed fourth in the women's 200-meter dash and was fifth in the women's 400-meter dash. Dinsmore registered a time of 26.34 seconds in the 200 and clocked in with a career-best 59.32 seconds in the 400.

Catherine Sims of Concordia University (Ore.) won the women's 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. Her time in the 100 was 12.29 seconds. She won the 200 in 25.45 seconds. Stephanie Cummings of Spokane Community College took first place in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 56.84 seconds.

The Willamette women's 4 x 100-meter relay team placed fifth after completing the race in 50.36 seconds. Running on the relay were Samantha Nhim (Jr., Tigard, OR/Southridge HS), Dinsmore, Robin Smith (Fr., Tillamook, OR/Tillamook HS) and Brandi Miller (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/North Valley HS). Portland State University won the 4 x 100-meter relay in 46.50 seconds.

Willamette's Paul Winger (Jr., Bonney Lake, WA/Bonney Lake HS) took sixth place in the men's 400-meter dash and was ninth in the men's 200-meter dash. He achieved a time of 50.06 seconds in the 400 and finished the 200 in 22.83 seconds.

David Registe from the University of Alaska-Anchorage prevailed in the 200 with a time of 21.91 seconds. He also won the 100-meter dash in 10.68 seconds. The winner of the 400 was Chris Stubbs from Lane Community College, who was timed at 48.29 seconds.

Trevor May (Sr., Florence, OR/Sliuslaw HS) provided the Bearcats with sixth place finishes in the men's 110-meter hurdles and the men's triple jump. His time in the 100-meter hurdles was 15.57 seconds. His top distance in the triple jump was 41'4.25".

The Bearcats were fifth in the men's 4 x 100-meter relay, completing the event in 43.32 seconds. Alaska-Anchorage took first place with a time of 41.91 seconds. WU's 4 x 100-meter team included Tom Fiechtner (Fr., Poway, CA/Cathedral HS), Winger, Abe Moland (Sr., Spokane, WA/St. George's School) and Neal Howard (So., Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS).

Also for Willamette:

Josh Clothier (Sr., Walla Walla, WA/Walla Walla HS) finished fifth in the men's shot put with a toss of 48'4".

Taylor Ottomano (Fr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) was fifth in the women's high jump at 5'0.25" and took fifth in the women's triple jump with a leap of 32'11.75".

Manta Dircks (Fr., Hilo, HI/Kamehameha HS) tied for seventh in the long jump at 20'4.50".

Willamette recorded two NCAA provisional qualifying times during the 4th Annual Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance during the first day of the Willamette Invitational:

Leo Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) won the "A" section of the men's 10,000-meter run with a provisional qualifying time of 30:38.01. Kimber Mattox (Jr., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) earned a provisional qualifying time of 17:10.28 while placing second in the "A" section of the women's 5,000-meter run.