SEATTLE, Wash.---A combined eight Pilots from the men's and women's track and field teams collected Top-10 program finishes at the UW Preview held at Dempsey Indoor on Saturday. Sophomore Parker Wilkerson highlighted the day with a new school record in the men's indoor 800 meter run, clocking in with a time of 1:50.98 to overtake the previous record of 1:52.63 set by Cobie Chavez-Killinger back in 2016. Veerle Bakker produced yet another outstanding performance, notching a new personal best of 9:14.06 to land in second-place all-time in the women's 3000m.
 
For the Portland men, Konnor Hathaway secured a new PR of 1:52.95 in the 800m run, nabbing fourth-place all -time in the event. Then making his debut in the 3K race, Matt Strangio came in at an impressive 8:00.75 to take seventh-place all-time. Chris Morzenti's time of 4:04.21 in the men's mile was good for 10th-place all-time in the Portland record books.
 
"Proud of the team to get off to a strong and confident start," said men's head coach Rob Conner. "The highlight was certainly Parker's school record 800, but Matt Strangio and Chris Morzenti came out smoking too. Great stuff coming off a month at home!"
 
Over on the women's side, Laura Pellicoro ran into eighth-place all-time in the 3000m race, putting up a time of 9:24.54 in her first appearance in the run. Sophomore Teresa Perez strode into sixth-place all-time in the 600m, coming in with a personal best of 1:49.67. Sprinter Tara Fuiten later posted the eighth-place all-time best in the 400m dash with a time of 59.47, and maintains the UP record of 57.43 in the event, which she set back in 2020.
 
"Lots of good racing but Veerle Bakker really impressed me," said women's head coach Ian Solof. "She ran a perfect race, set a huge PR, and nearly broke the school record. Claire Fagan also did a great job in her debut for us and picked up a nice heat win."
 
The Pilots will be back in action next week on Sunday, January 23rd, when they host their first indoor meet of the season at the Chiles Center, with events kicking off at 12 p.m.
 
UW Preview Results
Seattle, Wash.
January 15, 2022
 
Women's 3000 Meter Run
Veerle Bakker (9:14.06) PR – Second-place all-time
Laura Pellicoro (9:24.54) PR* – Eighth-place all-time
Claire Fagan (9:46.00) PR*
Mie Nielsen (10:02.51) PR*
 
Men's 3000 Meter Run
Matt Strangio (8:00.75) PR* – Seventh-place all-time
Stan Niesten (8:06.81) PR*
Chris Anderson (8:30.73)
John Kavulich (8:32.59) PR
Kai Vickers (9:05.34)
 
Women's Mile Run
Ellie Erikson (5:09.17)
Evelyn Collins-Winn (5:11.16) PR*
Lacey Conner (5:21.59)
Alexa Hague (5:44.97)
Ellee Becker (5:47.23)
 
Men's Mile Run
Chris Morzenti (4:04.21) PR* – 10th-place all-time
Justin Hazell (4:09.06)
Bradley Peloquin (4:10.71)
Jacob Klemz (4:11.73) PR*
Riley Osen (4:13.39)
Cameron Thompson (4:21.90) PR
AJ Reyes (4:32.22) PR*
Paul Law (4:34.52) PR*
 
Women's 400 Meter Dash
Tara Fuiten (59.47) – Eighth-place all-time
Ella Parker (1:00.01) PR*
 
Women's 600 Meter Run
Teresa Perez (1:49.67) PR* Sixth-place all-time
 
Women's 800 Meter Run
Lauren Block (2:24.25)
Grace Oswin (2:26.52)
 
Men's 800 Meter Run
Parker Wilkerson (1:50.98) PR – First-place all-time
Konnor Hathaway (1:52.95) PR – Fourth-place all-time
Sully Nordheim (1:56.39) PR*
Charlie McIntyre (1:59.60) PR*

*first time competing in the event as a Pilot