Track & Field | 3/30/2011 3:03:38 PM

[Accepted entries] [Meet schedule]

This week:
After its first long road trip of the outdoor season, the Western Oregon University track & field team will return to a familiar location as it takes the short trip to Salem to compete in the Willamette Invitational on Apr. 1-2.

Willamette Invitational:
The two-day Willamette Invitational will be held Apr. 1-2 at the Charles Bowles Track and McCulloch Stadium in Bush's Pasture Park. The field at the meet will include teams ranging from junior colleges to four-year NCAA Division I institutions throughout the Northwest.

Weekend recap:
Stanford Invitational: Chris Reed broke the school record in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 14:21.14. That time moved him into fourth in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history and earned Reed an NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Janelle Everetts barely missed an NCAA standard of her own as she posted a time of 2:14.58 in the 800m to finish .58 seconds off the standard.

SFSU Distance Carnival: Brandon Snook highlights the Wolves' performances at the SFSU Distance Carnival by registering an NCAA provisional standard time of 9:18.82 in the 3,000 steeplechase. The Wolves also saw Lexi Pola move into a tie for fifth in WOU history in the 400m, and Madison McClung moved into eighth place in the record books with a time of 25.46 in the 200m. Connor Kasler also won the 800m run, while Donavan McFadden took home the title in the high jump.

Records fall:
When Chris Reed ran a time of 14.21.14 in the 5k at the Stanford Invitational he moved into first place in school history. This gave Reed possession of his fifth school record. He already owns the school's indoor records in the mile and the 5k. Reed also ran the fourth leg on the Wolves' All-American distance medley relay team. Reed's 5k time gave him his second outdoor record. He also owns the school's 10k record, having set the mark during the 2010 season.

Meet the NCAA standards:
Four weeks into the outdoor season, Western Oregon has already had four student-athletes earn NCAA provisional qualifying standards.

Amanda Schumaker grabbed her provisional standard in the first meet of the season as this 2010 All-American looks to return to Nationals. She recorded a throw of 145-10 (44.45m) in the javelin at the Willamette Opener to ascend to the top spot in the GNAC and she has still not relinquished her spot.

Ashley Potter is also looking to get back to National for the second straight season. She registered a leap of 39-1.75 (11.93m) in the triple jump at the Oregon Preview en route to winning the event.

Chris Reed, who also participated at 2010 Nationals, earned his NCAA provisional standard in the 5k with that school record run of 14:21.14.

Brandon Snook earned his first NCAA provisional standard in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:18.82 at the SFSU Distance Carnival.

Nationally ranked:
After the men ended the indoor season as the No. 1 team in the West Region, it is now the women's turn to receive recognition. In the initial USTFCCCA poll the women's team is receiving 49.72 points to climb 12 spots from the previous rankings into 23rd nationally. The first regional outdoor poll will not be released until Wednesday, Apr. 6.

Potter and Kaino named GNAC players of the week (Mar. 21):
Ashley Potter claimed GNAC Female Athlete of the Week after winning the triple jump at the Oregon Preview. The junior from Springfield, Ore. (Thurston High School) leaped 39-1.75 (11.93m) en route to earning an NCAA provisional qualifying standard. That mark is the best in the GNAC this season and is just seven inches shy of her own Western Oregon and GNAC record distance of 39-8.75 (12.11m).

Matt Kaino won the 400 meter dash with a time of 48.44 at Oregon Preview on Saturday then claimed the GNAC Male Athlete of the Week honors on Monday. The sophomore from Ilwaco, Wash. (Ilwaco High School) was the only GNAC male student-athlete to win an event at the meet. This was the first meet of the outdoor season for Kaino, who was coming off All-American honors during the indoor season.

John Knight Twilight next:
The Wolves will also be looking forward to next Friday (Apr. 8) when they will host the John Knight Twilight, their only home meet of the 2011 season. The meet will begin at 3:15 p.m. with the men's shot put, and conclude after the men's 10k which starts at 9:25 p.m.