Thornton Wins Women's 100-Meter Hurdles in 15.29 Seconds at Pacific Open

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Willamette track and field athlete Katherine Thornton (Jr., Reno, NV/Reno HS) won the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Pacific Open on Saturday, April 1. Thornton registered a time of 15.29 seconds, which moved her from 10th into ninth on WU's all-time list. Thornton's previous top time in the 100 hurdles was 15.39 seconds at this year's Willamette Invitational on March 25.

At Pacific on Saturday, Thornton lowered her time by 0.10 as she finished in front of Isabel Tapley from Lane Community College, who took second place in 15.40 seconds. A total of 21 athletes competed in the women's 100-meter hurdles.

In addition to the win by Thornton, the Bearcats earned second place in four events. Sami Riggs (Sr., La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) was second in the women's 400-meter dash, Grace Kosmicki (Fy., Pocatello, ID/Highland HS) placed second in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Whitley Stepp (Fy., Silverton, OR/Regis HS) took second in the women's high jump, and Oliver Anderson (Sr., Salem, OR/Home Schooled) was second in the men's triple jump.

Riggs was timed at 59.53 seconds in the women's 400. She trailed only Angelica Gatica Gomez from Pacific University, who won the event in 59.04 seconds. In the women's steeplechase, Kosmicki completed the race in 12:22.59. Stepp cleared 5' 0.25" in the women's high jump, while Rachel Noyce of Umpqua Community College took first place at 5' 2.25".

Anderson's top mark in the men's triple jump was 45' 10.50", as he ended the competition just 2.25" out of first place. He set a personal record that places him ninth on Willamette's all-time list. Marley Harrison from Western Oregon University won the triple jump with a distance of 46' 0.75".

The Bearcats registered a third place finish in the women's 4 x 100-meter relay. Riggs, Mashani Coleman Toliver (Fy., Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS), Kenzie Lee (Fy., Kaneohe, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute), and Stepp competed on the relay unit. They were timed at 50.47 seconds. Lance CC won the race in 49.43 seconds, and Southern Oregon University was second in 50.04 seconds.

Nora Wade (Fy., San Diego, CA/Point Loma HS) from Willamette was fourth in the women's high jump. She was successful at 4' 8.25". Allie Youngs of Pacific Lutheran University also cleared 4' 8.25" and was awarded third place on jumps.

Elijah Jones (Fy, Salem, OR/Central HS) took fourth for the Bearcats in the men's pole vault. He cleared 13' 8.25" and earned third place on jumps, while two other competitors also cleared 13' 8.25" and placed fifth and sixth.

WU's Tenley Grant (Fy., Longview, WA/Kelso HS) placed fifth in the women's hammer throw with a top distance of 136' 3". Her mark was just over a foot away from fourth place.

Other Top Results by the Bearcats

Lee placed 12th in the women's 200-meter dash and registered a time of 26.78 seconds.

Zoe Heino (Fy., Portland, OR/Mountainside HS) was 16th in the women's 1,500-meter run in 4:59.39. Seven of the top 13 places went to runners from the University of Portland, while four went to Portland State University athletes, and two were unattached runners. Heino was within about two seconds of the top two NCAA Division III finishers.

Lecia Sincere (So., Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS) was seventh in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.63 seconds. Sincere also was seventh in the women's triple jump at 32' 7".

Grant placed 13th out of 33 competitors in the women's shot put. Her top mark was a personal-best 34' 9".

Anderson was ninth in the men's 100-meter dash. He completed the race in 11.33 seconds. Simon Kidder (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) took eighth place in the men's 400-meter dash with a personal record time of 52.31 seconds.

William Hennum (Jr., Henderson, NV/Liberty HS/SW Oregon CC) was 10th in the men's 1,500-meter run. His time was 4:05.85.

Kaleb Mcarthur (Fy., Independence, OR/Central HS) earned a distance of 20' 10.75" to place seventh in the men's long jump.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, April 7 at the John Knight Twilight. The meet will be hosted by Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon.