Willamette Invitational Set for Friday and Saturday at Charles Bowles Track

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcat track and field teams will be the hosts for one of the largest college meets on the West Coast when the Willamette Invitational is held at the Charles Bowles Track on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. The Willamette Invitational, the Stanford Invitational and the Oregon Relays are featured college track and field competitions each spring.

Willamette is ready to continue it long-standing tradition of a large and impressive track and field meet. This year, there are 41 teams representing colleges from all divisions as well as area running clubs. A total of 1,078 entries have been received and are scheduled for competition.

The Charles Bowles Track is located at McCulloch Stadium in Bush's Pasture Park (near the intersection of Mission St. and Winter St.).

Field events open with the men's and women's hammer throw and the women's and men's pole vault on Friday at 3 p.m. (PDT). The hammer throw will be held at 1850 Oxford SE behind the Math Learning Center. The pole vault and all other events will be held at the Charles Bowles Track.

The first running event will be the "B" section of the men's 10,000-meter run at 3:45 p.m. (PDT). The women's 10,000-meter run, which has one section, will be next. The afternoon session on the track will conclude with the slower heats in the men's and women's 1,500-meter run and 5,000-meter run.

The 4th Annual Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance, featuring the fastest heats in the men's and women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, 1,500-meter run and 5,000-meter run, plus the fastest heat in the men's 10,000-meter run, will be held on Friday night. The Celebration of Distance will begin with the women's steeplechase at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude with the men's 10,000 at 8:35 p.m.

Saturday's schedule includes the remaining field events, starting at 10 a.m., as well as the shorter track events and the relay races. Running events will begin at 12 p.m., with the final event set for 4:25 p.m.

The Willamette Invitational will feature many quality competitors throughout the meet and the host Bearcats will be represented in a wide range of events. The level of competition will be some of the best the Bearcats will face this spring.

Among the list of 41 teams and clubs joining Willamette at the meet are Boise State University, the University of Portland, Portland State University and Seattle University from NCAA Division I, the University of Alaska-Anchorage, St. Martin's University and Western Oregon University from NCAA Division II, as well as Northwest Conference rivals George Fox University, Linfield College, and Whitworth University.

The meet also will include teams from the NAIA and the NJCAA (junior colleges), plus running and track clubs from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

In the running events, athletes will compete against the clock, with multiple heats scheduled for events with large numbers of entries. The throwing events, long jump and triple jump will have three attempts per athlete, with the top nine competitors advancing to the finals.

Each year, the Willamette Invitational features several events with a significant number of heats. This year is no exception.

In the men's 800-meter run, there are 62 entries who will compete in seven heats. The men's 200-meter dash has 48 competitors in six heats. The men's 100-meter dash, with 40 entries, and the women's 200-meter dash, with 36 entries, will each have five heats.

Several of the distance events also will include large groups of runners. The men's 1,500 will have 68 competitors in five heats, while the men's 5,000 will feature 61 runners in two heats and the women's 5,000 will have 51 runners in two heats. The men's 10,000 has 44 entries in two heats and the women's 1,500 will include 45 entries in three heats.

Willamette relies on a hard-working group of officials and volunteers to keep the meet running smoothly each season. Among those returning to help again this year are the Salem Track Club and the Certified Track and Field Officials.

Parking near Bush's Pasture Park will be in high demand. Fans should check the parking areas on both sides of the park, as well as nearby areas in Salem.

The Willamette University parking lot near the Sparks Center requires a parking permit until 4 p.m. on Friday, but is open to the public the remainder of Friday and on Saturday. The Sparks Center lot is located at the intersection of Bellevue and 12th Street, roughly two to three blocks from Bush's Pasture Park.

Please note that parking at Salem Hospital is not available and is only for hospital personnel and related business.

Willamette Invitational

Schedule for Friday, April 1

Field Events (Three attempts followed by Top 9 in Finals)
3:00 p.m. - Mens Hammer (Women to follow) at 1850 Oxford SE (Behind the Math Learning Center)
3:00 p.m. - Women's Pole Vault (Men to follow) on the infield at McCulloch Stadium

Running Events
3:45 p.m. - Men's 10000m - B section
4:25 p.m. - Womens 10000m - A section
5:10 p.m. - Women's 1500m - C section
5:20 p.m. - Womens 1500m - B section
5:30 p.m. - Men's 1500m - E section
5:40 p.m. - Men's 1500m - D section
5:50 p.m. - Mens 1500m - C section
6:00 p.m. - Mens 1500m - B section
6:10 p.m. - Women's 5000m - B section
6:35 p.m. - Men's 5000m - B section

Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance (Fastest Heats)
7:00 p.m. - Womens 3000m Steeplechase - A section
7:20 p.m. - Mens 3000m Steeplechase - A section
7:35 p.m. - Womens 1500m - A section
7:43 p.m. - Mens 1500m - A section
7:50 p.m. - Womens 5000m - A section
8:15 p.m. - Mens 5000m - A section
8:35 p.m. - Men's 10000m - A section

Schedule for Saturday, April 2

Field Events (Three attempts followed by Top 9 in Finals)
10:00 a.m. - Mens Javelin (Women to follow)
10:00 a.m. - Mens Shot Put (Women to follow)
10:00 a.m. - Womens High Jump (Men to follow)
10:00 a.m. - Mens Long Jump (Triple Jump to follow)
10:00 p.m. - Womens Long Jump (Triple Jump to follow)
1:00 p.m. - Mens Discus (Women to follow)

Running Events (NOTE: Fastest heats run first on Saturday)
12:00 p.m. - Womens 4 x 100m Relay (2 heats)
12:10 p.m. - Mens 4 x 100m Relay (2 heats)
12:25 p.m. - Women's 100m Hurdles (4 heats)
12:50 p.m. - Men's 110m Hurdles (4 heats)
1:10 p.m. - Women's 400m (3 heats)
1:20 p.m. - Men's 400m (4 heats)
1:40 p.m. - Women's 100m (4 heats)
1:55 p.m. - Men's 100m (5 heats)
2:15 p.m. - Women's 800m (3 heats)
2:40 p.m. - Men's 800m (7 heats)
3:15 p.m. - Women's 400m Hurdles (2 heats)
3:25 p.m. - Men's 400m Hurdles (3 heats)
3:45 p.m. - Women's 200m (5 heats)
3:55 p.m. - Men's 200m (6 heats)
4:15 p.m. - Women's 4 x 400m Relay (2 heats)
4:25 p.m. - Men's 4 x 400m Relay (3 heats)