Bearcats Vanquish Corban in Dual Meet

SALEM, Ore. – Willamette competed against Corban University in a dual meet this week at McCulloch Stadium. Women's Heptathlon competition took place March 17-18, and regular women's competition on the 19th.

In the Women's Heptathlon, Ella Thompson and Erica Snyder competed against each other across the seven events, with no competition from Corban. Thompson took first in the Heptathlon with 4184 points, and Snyder following with 3770 points. In the Hept 100m Hurdles, Thompson overcame Snyder in a close race. In Hept High Jump, Thompson once again took first, clearing the bar at 1.55 meters, however in Hept Shot Put, Snyder outthrew her with a personal best (PB) of 9.79 meters. In the next race, the Hept 200m, Thompson once again took first, in addition to first in Hept Long Jump. Snyder's throwing ability shined once again in Hept Javelin, where she won with a 29.94-meter throw. In seventh and final event, the Hept 800m, Thompson outpaced Snyder with a time of 2:39.77 minutes (PB).

Moving to throwing, Bearcat Olivia Jacobson took first place in Hammer Throw with Madelynn Straus from Corban securing second. Henri Osborne and Nanea Cobb-Adams also had notable performances, Cobb-Adams achieving a PB of 35.20 meters. Cobb-Adams also took first in Discus, Osborne and Jacobson following behind in second and third, respectively. In Javelin, Whitley Stepp best throw was 20.39 meters on her third attempt. In Shot Put, Osborne took first place and Jacobson second.

Anastasiia Lemesh ran 4:52.65 minutes (PB) in the 1500 to achieve first place, Anna Bikle following close behind in second. Elise Henderson came in fourth in the 1500m. Both Bearcats in the 100m Hurdles secured personal bests. Lavender Bel flew past competition in 14.87 seconds (PB) for first place, while Sage Miller came in right behind her at 16.29 seconds (PB). In the 400m, Juniper Ammirati earned first place in 63.73 seconds and Maya Willis third in 65.07 seconds.

In the 100m, Bel once again took first place in 12.40 seconds (PB). Mashani Coleman Toliver also achieved a personal best (12.58 seconds) as she sped past competition to take third. In the 800m, the Bearcats took second through fourth, Lemesh and Henderson both with PBs. Coleman Toliver secured first in the 200m with a time of 25.89 seconds (PB), while Wendy Brannon came in fourth place at 27.25 (PB).

The Willamette team dominated against the two teams from Corban in the 4x400m Relay, thanks to the strong start by Ammirati. Bikle maintained the lead during the second leg, but it got tense when it appeared Corban might take over Henderson in the third. However, Henderson's kick prevented them from doing so, and Miller brought the baton home for a first-place finish.

In Triple Jump, Amanda Mcarthur secured first place, jumping 10.53 meters. Janae Howard took third with 9.72 meters. In Pole Vault, Rema Holmes took second, clearing 2.60 meters.

The Bearcats travel for their next competition to Corvallis, Oregon, to compete in the PNW Invitational on March 21.