CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Central Washington University Track and Field Team traveled to The Beaver State this weekend to participate in the Oregon State University PNW Invite where the 'Cats showed out in their second outdoor meet of the season. 
 
MEET INFORMATION:
 
Meet: OSU PNW Invite
Location: Whyte Track & Field Center (Corvallis, Ore.)
RESULTS
 
QUOTING CWU TRACK & FIELD HEAD COACH JONATHAN HILL:

"We were basically able to flex our full strength this weekend at an awesome meet hosted by Oregon State. They were great hosts and the weather cooperated for some really great opportunities.

We were very competitive on the track winning the women's 100, 400, 400 hurdles, and 4x4 and the men's 110 and 400 hurdles. in teh field we took the women's triple jump and the men's high jump. Ashlyn, Elise, Azariah, Boogy, Josh, Matthew, and the relay - Going on the road to win Pac12 meets is a good sign for our regional competitiveness. 

We were strong across the board and showed up huge in distance events. Maddy was awesome with her sixth al-time 5k in her outdoor debut. Our 1500 guys and gals had a great showing with Kellen and Dawn/Hannah taking advantage of an opportunity to run fast. The steeple crew is really coming along with Ares, Charlie, and of course Katie moving way up the GNAC rankings list. 

Maliyah is getting better and better each week as well.

Elise was beyond spectacular. She pr'd in everything she touchded... 59.90 in the 400 hurdles is the second in the NCAA. She cambe back feeling good and ran the 400/100 back-to-back. She pr'd  in both and either won or teid for the win. She's second nationally in the 400. Finally she split a ridiculous 52.84 to win the 4x4, break the school record, and lead the NCAA. Our 4x4 was Julie, Ashluyn, Ellie, and Hopper. Really strong group that made a statement at the end of a great meet.

I'm really pleased with our efforts today and the path we're on. If mistakes were made, they were usually people trying to make a big mark happen. I can live with us pushing the pace and being aggressive as long as we learn from the event if it doesn't work out."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The 'Cats started out the meet on Friday with a bang as Josh Boast, Elise Hopper, Matthew Bender, and Azariah Miller all posted event wins. 
 
Bender grabbed the first event title for the 'Cats in the men's high jump with a new personal best with a 1.95m jump. Hopper started out the running events with a new personal best enroute to her event title in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 59.9. Boast followed that up to help the 'Cats secure the sweep of the 400m hurdles with a victory in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 53.01. Miller capped off a successful day one with her crown in the women's triple jump, jumping 11.83m. 
 
The Wildcats also had many athletes finish with top five finishes including Ashlyn Nielson grabbing a third-place finish in the 200m with a time of 24.39 and Tehya Moore adding at third place finish in the triple jump with a jump of 11.52m. Ellie Degroot added a fourth-place finish in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:01.91. Ares Van Straaten tacked on a fourth place 3000m steeplechase finish with a time of 9:36.68 and Katie Manly matched that with a fourth-place finish of her own in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:27.28. Rounding out the fourth-place finishers was Cal'von Baker in the high jump with a jump of 1.90m. Carley Huber took home fifth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:04.05 while Kellen McInelley earned a personal best in the 1500m with a time of 3:56.54. Charles Naught finished fifth in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:39.78 while Maddy Harrison added a fifth-place finish in the 5000m with a time of 17:18.93.
 
Four more 'Cats added personal bests on Friday. Colton Magruder finished with a time of 21.49 in the 200m, Layla Fields added a 200m time of 25.82, Dawn Hulstedt finished with a time of 4:43.80 in the 1500m, and Lillian Neff tacked on a 5000m time of 18:02.89. 
 
Saturday provided the 'Cats more opportunities to shine and shine they did. The 'Cats had four event champions in day two, started by David Brown earning the 110m hurdle title with a time of 14.63. Hopper then added her second event title of the weekend with a first-place finish in the 400m with a time of 54.29 which accounts for her new personal best. Ashlyn Nielsen backed that up with an event title in the 100m with a time of 12.05. The women's 4x400m relay team wrapped up the day with a huge victory as the team of Julie Castillejo, Nielsen, Ellie DeGroot, and Hopper finished with a time of 3:44.0. 
 
The Wildcats saw many other top five finishers. DeGroot saw a second-place finish in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.66. Hopper was just shy of catching Nielsen in the 100m earning the 'Cats the top two spots in the race with a time of 12.05 which marked a new personal best. The men's 4x400m relay team consisting of Trevion Walker, Max Hutton, Chase Perez, and Boast finishing with a time of 3:20.79. 
 
Boast added a third-place finish in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.03. Magruder finished fourth in the 100m with a time of 10.67. Meggie Kilcup earned a fourth-place finish in the 800m with a time of 2:16.51. Maliyah Gordon recorded a new personal best in her fourth-place finish in the shotput with a throw of 13.71m. Hutton helped the 'Cats earn a top five spot in both 800m races with his fifth-place finish with a time of 2:16.51.
 
Two more 'Cats earned personal bests on Saturday. Perez had a new personal best in the 400m with a time of 50.40 while Hannah Pidduck added a new personal best in the 800m with a time of 2:18.12. 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Wildcats will turn their attention to Spokane when they head to the Whitworth Peace Meet. The Whitworth Peace Meet is set to be held on Saturday, April 4 from inside Puryear Field/Boppell Track at the Whitworth Pine Bowl.