By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program was spread across the nation to close out its spring break competition.
WWU competed in the UBC Open on Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver, B.C., the West Coast Relays on Saturday in Clovis, California and the Raleigh Relays on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Here is a recap of WWU's top performances from competition over the weekend.
GUTIERREZ LEADS VIKINGS IN HAMMER
Sophomore Calvin Gutierrez led the Vikings strong contingent in the men's hammer throw at the UBC Open winning the competition with a throw of 56.19m/184-4 on his sixth and final attempt. Gutierrez was one of five Vikings in the nine-competitor field, with senior Angelo Ramos placing 2nd (54.83m/179-10) and sophomore Tristan Bahm 5th (48.27m/158-4).
BENNETT DAZZLES IN OUTDOOR 400 DEBUT
Senior All-American Bec Bennett made her outdoor debut in her marquee 400m event, placing 6th out of 126 runners at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina. Bennett recorded an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark running 53.78 – well below the 55.49 standard – for the current No. 1 mark in the nation.
CHAPIN RACKS UP TWO MORE EVENT WINS
Sophomore Kathryn Chapin recorded two more event wins to add to her lengthy list in 2025-26, recording the top mark in the women's hammer throw (52.84m/173-4) and set a PR to win the shot put (14.24m/46-8.75) at the UBC Open. Chapin is undefeated in her five outdoor events in the hammer and shot put.
KROONTJE RECORDS TOP-10 TIME IN 5K
Senior Emmy Kroontje made her outdoor debut after an All-America campaign during the indoor season in the 800m, placing 10th in the 5000m in a personal-best time of 17:05.57 to rank No. 7 in WWU history. Junior Ella Edens was 13th in 17:16.05 and senior Alexis Parker placed 14th in 17:26.43.
TURNER LEADS STRONG SHOT PUT EFFORT
Junior Noah Turner led a strong effort by the Vikings in the men's shot put at the UBC Open, winning the event with a season-best throw of 16.30m/53-5.75. WWU's throws squad featured six of the top seven collegiate finishers in the event, with sophomore Alex Pytte setting a PR of 15.62m/51-3 to finish 2nd (just outside of WWU top 10).
WALL RECORDS ANOTHER FIRST IN DISCUS
Junior Liam Wall won the men's discus competition at the UBC open with a throw of 52.46m/172-1, his third win in three meets during the 2026 outdoor season. Wall set WWU's school record in the discus at the PLU Open March 13 with a throw of 55.27m/181-4. Freshman Connor Inman placed 2nd with a throw of 47.68m/156-5 marking the third consecutive meet to set a PR in the event. Sophomore Calvin Gutierrez added to his victory in the hammer throw placing 3rd with a PR mark of 47.13m/154-7, a PR of over four meters.
Sophomore Nathan Reseigh won the 800m in 1:53.02 with junior Cole Riley placing 5th in 1:54.48. The Vikings featured seven runners in the event finishing below the 1:57 mark, including a trio of freshman Nate Rumberger (1:54.54), Van Talbott (1:55.54) and Heath Terry (1:56.90).
ADDITIONAL UBC OPEN NOTES
Junior Josephine Stevenson led WWU placing 5th in the women's 1500m in a PR time of 4:42.05 … junior Jill Philbin was 7th in 4:47.23 … sophomore Eli Williams won the men's 1500m in 3:53.99, just off his PR of 3:50.56 in the event … senior Jaden Johnson placed 5th in the men's 100m dash in 11.10 and sophomore Cameron Trichel was 6th in 11.26 … redshirt freshman Lauren Simicich placed 2nd in the women's discus with a throw of 40.90m/134-2, followed by freshman Azadeh Teague in 3rd place (40.51m/132-11) … junior Sydney Mohlman placed 2nd in the women's pole vault clearing 3.58m/11-9 …
DISTANCE RUNNERS RACE AT WEST COAST RELAYS
The Vikings sent four men's distance runners to the West Coast Relays in Clovis, California to race in the 5000m. Sophomore Spencer Zeljack led the quartet placing 3rd out of 22 competitors with a time of 14:57.54. Sophomore Luke Reiss (5th, 15:00.60), sophomore Cale O'Day (6th, 15:07.96) and freshman Chance Leandro (7th, 15:15.29) also represented Western setting personal-best outdoor marks in the event.
The Vikings are back on the road next weekend sending the sprints and throws heading to San Diego for the UCSD Triton Invite and the distance crew going to the Bay Area for the Mike Fanelli Track Classic. Links to follow results from all competitions are listed on the 2026 schedule at WWUVikings.com.
