TACOMA, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program concluded first outdoor meet of the season Saturday at the Ed Boitano Invitational at Baker Stadium on the University of Puget Sound campus.
 
The Vikings distance runners took centerstage over the two-day meet, with Andrew Oslin setting the program record in the 10,000m, Jeret Gillingham recording an early national-leading mark in the 3,000m steeplechase, Kevin McDermott winning the 1500m and 5000m and Meaera Shannon entering the program top 10 with the 8th-best 10,000m time in program history.
 
Saturday's top performances were highlighted by Gillingham cruising to the win by over a minute, nearing his personal-best time finishing in 8:55.62 to record an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark. Although very early in the season, his time will set a very high bar with the goal of reaching nationals. 
 
McDermott was a double winner in both the 1500m (3:51.41) and the 5000m (15:14.22).
 
Jaden Edwards made his season debut after redshirting during indoor season placing 2nd in the 400m with a time of 56.31.
 
Saturday's field event performances were led by a 3rd-place finish in the javelin by Jadon Tryon, recording a season-opening mark of 51.42m/168-8.
 
The women's team was led by a pair of 3rd-place finishes by Marian Ledesma in the 400m (1:00.75) and Ellie Bassett in the 800m (2:23.47). Shannon placed 2nd in the 10,000m on Friday afternoon with a time of 37:23.82 for the No. 8 mark in program history. 
 
On Friday, Andrew Oslin made his WWU outdoor debut breaking the 13-year-old 10,000-meter record running a time of 29:41.91 for the 6th-fastest mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history. Oslin made his WWU outdoor debut in style with the record-breaking performance. The Saint Martin's transfer broke the previous WWU record of 29:45.92 set by Jordan Welling in 2010. Ryan Clough narrowly missed a top-10 GNAC time placing 2nd in the race behind Oslin in a time of 29:55.94, the 5th-fastest mark in WWU history. Oslin and Clough were both well below the NCAA II provisional qualifying mark of 30:28.78 and are early No. 1-2 times in NCAA Division II.
 
A pair of men's throwers recorded top-10 marks in program history on Friday in the hammer throw held at Pacific Lutheran University. Freshman Angelo Ramos won the event with a throw of 53.99m/177-1 for the No. 7 mark in WWU history and sophomore Miller Campbell finished 2nd with the No. 10 throw in program history (51.99m/170-7).
 
The Vikings return to outdoor action next week at the PLU Invitational in Tacoma, while Drew Weber (800m) and the Men's DMR will compete at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Live results are available to follow all the action at wwuvikings.com/TF_Live.