Bearcats Win Six Events on First Day of Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won a total of six events and recorded 17 Northwest Conference qualifying marks on the first day of the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic against crosstown rival Corban University on Thursday, March 17 at the Charles Bowles Track. The meet will continue on Friday, March 18, starting at 4 p.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats registered two victories in women's events and four wins in men's events during Thursday's action. Corban took first place in two women's events and two men's events. One women's event was won by an unattached athlete.

Some of the NWC qualifying results earned by the Bearcats were achieved by athletes who previously qualified for the NWC Championships at the Willamette Opener or the Lane Preview. Several additional WU athletes were added to the overall qualifying list with their efforts against Corban.

Katie Mariman (Fr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) and Brandi Miller (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/North Valley HS) each won an event for the WU women's team. Mariman took first place in the pole vault by clearing 10'8". Her vault was two inches higher than her top successful attempt at the Lane Preview this past weekend. Miller prevailed in a field of 10 athletes in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.28 seconds.

Ginny Hodges took second place in the women's javelin. She earned a personal-best distance of 116'5" that qualified her for the NWC Championships.

Event winners for the Bearcat men's team were Spencer Clemmer (Jr., Sacramento, CA/Elk Grove HS), David Oppat (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS), Wyatt Briggs (So., Scio, OR/Scio HS) and Nate Smith (Jr., Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy HS).

Clemmer finished in first place in the pole vault. His top vault allowed him to clear the bar at 13'7.25".

Oppat won the hammer throw with a personal record toss of 164'1". Steven Collins (Sr., Zillah, WA/Zillah HS) took second at 162'10". Oppat and Collins helped Willamette take the top five places in the event, including four results that surpassed the NWC qualifying standard.

First place in the men's javelin went to Briggs, who recorded a top throw of 170'6" to win by nine inches over Mark Hanson of Corban. Hanson placed second at 169'9".

Smith ran unopposed in the 10,000-meter run. He completed the race in 33:55.54 to achieve an NWC qualifying time. He is the third Bearcat to attain the NWC standard in the 10,000 so far this season, joining Sean Sharma (So., La Canada, CA/La Canada HS) and Josh Echols (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS).

Event winners for the Corban women were Rian Miller in the hammer throw at 104'0" and Rachel Newby in the javelin throw at 118'9". Alison Wood, competing unattached, won the women's high jump at 5'4.25". Winning for the Corban men were James Myrvold in the high jump at 6'6" and Chris McGehee in the 110-meter hurdles at 17.12 seconds.

Action will resume on Friday with the shot put, long jump and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 4 p.m. (PDT). The final event, the men's 4 x 400-meter relay, is set to begin at 6:45 p.m.