By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
EUGENE, Ore. – Led by a school record performance from the men's 4x400 relay team, the Western Washington University Track & Field program wrapped up a successful trip to historic Hayward Field and the two-day Oregon Preview.
WWU recorded five event wins, achieved eight program top 10 marks and had 39 top-8 finishes over the two-day meet held at the mecca of USA Track & Field on the University of Oregon campus.
The men's 4x400 relay consisting of freshman Evin Ford, senior Brian Le, sophomore Maurice Woodring and freshman Isaac Ford clocked the fastest time in WWU history in a time of 3:14.03, besting the old mark of 3:14.15 set in 2013. The time enters the GNAC record book at No. 8.
Sophomore Kennedy Cook won the women's 400m in an outdoor-best time of 55.61 to move up to No. 3 in program history and led the Vikings with a 4th-place finish in the 200m in 24.86.
Woodring won the 400m hurdles in a personal-best time of 52.45 to remain at No. 4 in WWU history and No. 5 in GNAC history.
Senior Mia Crocker placed 2nd in the 800m with an outdoor PR of 2:12.88 to move up to No. 6 in WWU history.
Freshman Kathryn Chapin concluded a great trip to Hayward Field placing 3rd in the shot put with a PR throw of 14.21m/46-7.5 for the No. 2 mark in WWU history. Chapin also placed 8th in Friday's hammer throw competition with the No. 6 mark in program history (47.06m/154-4).
Senior Katie Potts placed 2nd in the discus with a throw of 44.79m/146-11 placing just behind winner Jayla Hooper of Oregon State (45.67m/149-10).
Senior Ryan Greenwalt had another solid day on the track and in the field, placing 2nd in the 200m with a time of 21.58, finished 6th in the 100m in 10.78 and was 5th in the long jump with a mark of 6.82m/22-4.5.
The men's 400m featured the Ford brothers finishing 2nd (Isaac – 48.60) and 4th (Evin – 48.86) with both just missing a spot in the WWU top 10 in the event.
Here is a look at WWU results from the Oregon Preview:
BENNETT SETS RECORD IN ARIZONA
All-American Bec Bennett broke her own school record in the 400m Saturday at the Willie Williams Classic at Drachman Stadium on the University of Arizona campus. One week removed from placing 7th in the 400m at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Indianapolis, Bennett returned to competing in her marquee event clocking 54.25 in her second outdoor competition of the season. Bennett originally set the program standard in the 400m two weeks ago at the PLU open running 54.54 to break the previous school record of 54.59 set by Eleanor Siler in 2009.
The Vikings are back in action next week with the throwers headed to Texas to compete in the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos and the Texas Relays in Austin. The rest of the team is set to compete March 29-30 to complete spring break at the UBC Open in Vancouver. The complete 2025 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.
The Vikings swept the team titles at the 2025 GNAC Indoor Championships earning the title of conference indoor champions for the second consecutive season. Dating back to the 2022 calendar year, the WWU men have won nine of 10 possible titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor, while the women have combined for seven of 10 titles. The Western track & field and cross country program has a current string of 12 consecutive team titles across men's and women's dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships.
