SEATTLE, Wash.---Matt Strangio and Parker Wilkerson each notched new school records in the men's mile and men's 800 meter runs, respectively, and Laura Pellicoro took home second-place all-time in the women's mile among several outstanding individual performances from Portland's men's and women's track and field teams at the UW Invitational on Saturday.
 
Making his debut appearance in the event, Strangio's mile time of 3:59.19 was good for sixth-place overall on the day, and beats the previous school record of 3:59.61 set by George Duggan at the 2020 MPSF Championships. Chris Morzenti posted an impressive 4:02.02 to overtake seventh-place in Portland's all-time record books, securing 12th overall in the race.
 
Wilkerson then broke his own school record in the 800 meter run, clocking in with a new personal best of 1:49.85 to garner second-place individually at the meet. Konnor Hathaway crossed the line next for the Pilots with a new personal record of 1:52.33, marking the second-best finish in program history in the race.
 
In the men's 3000 meter run, Jacob Klemz clocked in at 7:54.83 to claim Portland's fourth-place all-time record in the event, Stan Niesten collected sixth-place all-time at 7:55.92, and Riley Osen shaved off nearly 20 seconds from his previous PR to collect eighth-place all-time at 7:58.95.
 
"I'm sure that that is the greatest January meet in Pilots history, let alone best indoor meet in Pilots history," said men's head coach Rob Conner. "Seemingly every guy on the team ran a personal best and we are contending for event wins. Parker is off to a great start this season with the school record in the 800m, Matt was very determined to break a school record today and won his heat, and we had a huge day in the 3000—maybe the best 3000 day we've ever had. We just got big PRs all the way down the line. Really impressed with Klemz, who won his heat, and really impressed with Stan and Riley tonight."
 
For the Portland women, Laura Pellicoro finished fourth overall in the mile run with a time of 4:37.79—the second-best finish in program history—and Veerle Bakker PRed in the event with a time of 4:43.38 to land the program's third-best all-time finish.
 
"Veerle and Laura both ran great! Two big PRs, a heat win, and nearly a school record" said women's head coach Ian Solof. "It was really exciting to see them execute perfect races and maximize the opportunity."
 
The Pilots return home next week to host the Portland Indoor Three on Friday, February 5th, with events kicking off at the Chiles Center at 6 p.m.
 
UW Invitational
Seattle, Wash.
January 29, 2022
 
Men's 3000 Meter Run
6. Jacob Klemz (7:54.83) PR* -- Fourth-place all-time
8. Stan Niesten (7:55.92) PR  -- Sixth-place all-time
10. Riley Osen (7:58.95) PR -- Eighth-place all-time
21. Justin Hazell (8:04.51)
22. Bradley Peloquin (8:04.78) PR
46. Chris Anderson (8:20.56) PR
52. John Kavulich (8:26.44) PR
53. Cameron Thompson (8:26.75) PR
 
Women's Mile Run
4. Laura Pellicoro (4:37.79) PR* -- Second-place all-time
10. Veerle Bakker (4:43.38) PR – Third-place all-time
 
Men's Mile Run
6. Matt Strangio (3:59.19) PR* -- First-place all-time
12. Chris Morzenti (4:02.02) PR -- Seventh-place all-time
 
Men's 800 Meter Run
2. Parker Wilkerson (1:49.85) PR -- First-place all-time
6. Konnor Hathaway (1:52.33) PR -- Second-place all-time
18. Sully Nordheim (1:55.12) PR
26. Jake Knoblich (1:56.62) PR
 
*first time competing in the event as a Pilot