Complete Results
PORTLAND, Ore--- For the first time in 25 years, Oregon State hosted a track in meet in Corvallis. Boasting a brand new facility, the Whyte Track and Field Center, the Beavers broke in the track last Saturday with the Oregon State Invitational.
For most of the Pilots who traveled to the meet, the Oregon State Invitational marked the opening of their outdoor campaigns and served as a test for their fitness levels.
After Saturday’s meet, the results were in. Needless to say, they were encouraging.
In the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase, Marci Witczak raced her way to a third place finish with a time of 11:29.67.
On the men’s side of the steeplechase, Stephen Kersh led a group of Pilots to fill the top five spots in the event. Kersh, in his steeple debut, won the race with a time of 9:20.31.
Running away from his competition in the 400-meter dash was Shane Fekete. He won the event with a time 50.17. Melissa Baller claimed victory in the women’s 400-meter dash in 58.96.
With a time of 13.02, Hannah Souders placed first in the women’s 100-meter dash in cold and windy conditions.
The Pilots continued their strong running into the middle-distance events.
Izaic Yorks grabbed a pair of victories in both the 800 and 1,500-meter run. Yorks edged out teammate Jared Bassett in the 1,500; they both ran 3:49 in the event. Only 50 minutes later in the 800, Yorks led wire-to-wire and posted a time of 1:56.95.
In the women’s 1,500, Anne Luijten ran 4:39.92 and placed fourth in a competitive race. Laura Hottenrott and Julia Fonk went 1-2 in the women’s 3,000-meter run with times of 9:52.17 and 9:56.15, respectively.
In a bizarre three-way tie for first place in the women’s high jump, Katie Lord topped out at 1.62 meters.
Matt Winterer had a best jump of two meters in the men’s high jump, good for second place on the day.
With a mark of 6.75 meters, Nathan DeVaughn captured first place in the men’s long jump.
In men’s javelin, Mark Schiremen had the best throw of the day and took first place with a distance of 52.84 meters. Finishing out the field events was Helen Harder in the women’s discus. She placed fourth with a throw of 36.35 meters.
Since this was the first meet in the Whyte Track and Field Center, any athlete who won their event is now the meet record holder. Katie Lord (high jump), Mark Schiremen (javelin), Nathan DeVaughn (long jump), Stuart Milner (triple jump), Hannah Souders (100-meter), Shane Fekete (400-meter), Melissa Baller (400-meter), Izaic Yorks (800 and 1,500-meter), Laura Hottenrott (3,000 meter), and Stephen Kersh (3,000 meter steeplechase) are all record holders at the new facility.
The Pilots will send a few of their 10,000-meter specialists to Stanford this week. They will be competing in the Stanford Invitational and a link for a video feed will be available.
