By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's 4 x 100-meter relay team placed fourth and the Bearcat men's 4 x 100-meter relay team placed fifth at the Oregon Preview on Saturday, March 16 at Hayward Field. A select group of Willamette track and field athletes competed at the prestigious meet, hosted by the University of Oregon.

Willamette registered a time of 50.45 seconds in the women's 4 x 100-meter relay. Seattle Pacific won the race in 47.92 seconds, while Lane Community College took second place at 49.25. Clackamas Community College was third at 50.35, just 0.10 in front of the Bearcats. Warner Pacific College finished fifth at 50.88.

Contributing to the Willamette women's relay were Kylea Johnson (Fr., Onalaska WA/Onalaska HS), Audrey Taylor (Fr., Portland, OR/La Salle HS), Carmela Roberts (Fr., Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) and Ashland Bernard (Fr., Kirkland, WA/Juanita HS).

In the men's 4 x 100-meter relay, the Bearcats were timed at 43.07 seconds. The University of Oregon won the relay with a time of 40.35. Willamette finished behind three relay squads from U of O plus a team from Seattle University.

Running on Willamette's relay for the men's team were Tom Fiechtner (Jr., Poway, CA/Cathedral HS), Jullian Haley (Fr., Shoreline, WA/University Preparatory Academy), Matt Paparella (Fr., Glendale, AZ/Ironwood HS) and Dylan Jones (Fr., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS).

Wyatt Briggs (Sr., Scio, OR/Scio HS) of Willamette placed sixth in the men's hammer throw with a top distance of 154' 2".

Willamette will return to action on March 22-23, when the Bearcats will compete at the Willamette Invitational Multi-Events and at a quadrangular meet hosted by Oregon State University and also involving Portland State University and the University of Portland.