EUGENE, Ore. --- The University of Portland runners began the 2011 outdoor track & field season with the Oregon Preview in Eugene on Saturday. Senior Dana Morgan recorded a solid 9:42.18 in the 3000m event before a Hayward Field crowd of 5,962. Junior Alfred Kipchumba finished third in the men’s 3000m in 8:29.52.
Natasha Verma, Paige Patillo, Ruth Croft, Molly Mitchell, and Slaine Kelly joined Morgan as top-20 finishers in the women’s 3000m. Senior Natalie Hemphill was the top Pilot finisher in Section 1 of the 1500m, finishing the event in 4:37.51.
Charlie McDonald and Craig Hopkins joined Kipchumba as top-10 finishers in the men’s 3000m. All six UP runners finished top-20 in the 3000m. Freshman Ben Snodgrass ran the 2000m steeplechase in 6:23.93, his first collegiate race.
Former All-American Sally Kipyego and European U-23 Champion Chris Thompson of Oregon Track Club Elite set meet records in the men’s and women’s 3000m, respectively.
Next up for the Pilots will be the Stanford Invitational on March 25-26 in Palo Alto at Cobb Track.
2011 Oregon Preview (Pilot Results Only)
Hayward Field
Eugene, Ore.
March 19, 2011
WOMEN
400m
(Section 2)
4. Kiyah Williams, 1:00.96
6. Devon Brown, 1:01.66
7. Kelsey Bestall, 1:04.52
800m
(Section 2)
Sarah Ramirez, 2:24.40
1500m
(Section 1)
5. Natalie Hemphill, 4:37.51
9. Theresa Hailey, 4:45.10
10. Elizabeth Keaveny, 4:50.11
3000m
(Section 1)
5. Dana Morgan, 9:42.18
11. Natasha Verma, 10:19.01
14. Paige Patillo, 10:22.64
17. Ruth Croft, 10:26.64
19. Molly Mitchell, 10:28.47
20. Slaine Kelly, 10:31.22
22. Lindsay Baker, 10:34.29
24. Rachel Van Nes, 10:36.89
4x400m Relay
5. Portland ‘A’, 4:15.30 (Devon Brown, Sarah Ramirez, Kelsey Bestall, Kiyah Williams)
MEN
200m
Section 2
6. Pono Hanson, 24.13
400m
Section 2
5. Patrick Torrellas, 50.47
800m
Section 1
6. Trevor Dunbar, 1:53.09
1500m
Section 1
3. Jared Bassett, 3:51.65
5. Chase Caulkins, 3:51.90
9. Cody Wells, 3:53.91
11. Trey Parry, 3:55.72
Section 2
11. David Williams, 4:01.43
12. Stephen Kersh, 4:03.11
16. Brendan Ralph, 4:02.71
-- William C. Lawson, 4:23.98
3000m
Section 1
3. Alfred Kipchumba, 8:29.52
4. Craig Hopkins, 8:30.80
6. Charlie McDonald, 8:33.58
12. Chris Borg, 8:49.41
15. AJ Kimura, 8:58.06
16. Aiden Irish, 8:58.48
2000m Steeplechase
14. Ben Snodgrass, 6:23.93
4x400 Relay
3. Portland ‘A’, 3:25.60 (Patrick Torrellas, Trey Parry, Pono Hanson, Cody Wells)