April 24, 2004

EUGENE, Ore. - Western Washington University's Kurt Hartmaier (Sr., Woodinville/Redmond) posted a NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying time in the men's 5,000 meters and the men's 4x400 relay won with a season-best clocking to highlight Viking performances in the day session of the University of Oregon Invitational Track and Field Meet on Saturday at Hayward Field.

Hartmaier, who earned All-America honors in cross country last fall, was timed in 14:47.25 as he placed sixth in the 5,000. Hartmeier is Western's fourth provisional qualifier this spring.

"Kurt didn't go out too hard and stayed on his pace," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "He got caught in a group that slowed him down for a couple of laps, but he eventually was able to break away."

Western's 4x400 relay bettered its time by over two seconds with a winning effort of 3:20.11. Making up that quartet were Brian Sweeney (So., Seattle/Seattle Prep), Jacob Petz (So., Pullman), Adam Neff (Fr., White Salmon/Columbia) and Ryan Los (Jr., Gig Harbor/Peninsula).

Laura Burch (Jr., McMinnville, Ore.) had a personal best time of 1:04.68 as she placed fifth in the women's 400 hurdles. Melissa Behrens (Sr., Redmond/Eastlake) finished fifth in the women's 100 (12.78), and was 13th in the 200 (26.21).

Los was sixth in the men's 400 hurdles in 56.16, and Beth Rosapepe (Jr., Port Orchard/South Kitsap) was seventh in the women's 10,000, which was run Friday night. Rosapepe's time of 38:39.62 was a season best.

Petz was tenth in the men's 100 (11.19), Kirsten Holt (So., Lakewood) 11th in the women's 100 hurdles (15.63), Dustin Wilson (So., Silverdale/Central Kitsap) 13th in the men's 110 hurdles (16.25), and Beth Griffin (Fr., Seattle/Kennedy) 14th in the women's triple jump (34-11).

Competing in the night session of the Oregon meet for Western are Danielle Juarez (Sr., Olympia/North Thurston) in the women's pole vault, Stacey Hopkins (Sr., Sammamish/Eastlake) in the women's javelin, Mark Mellein (So., Maple Grove, MN) in the men's triple jump, and the men's 4x100 relay of George Bedlion (So., Bellingham/Squalicum), Eddie Kaeka (So., Spanaway/Spanaway Lake), Wilson and Petz.

The Vikings hosts their own WWU Twilight meet next Friday (4 p.m.) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium.