EUGENE, Ore. – The Western Oregon University men's and women's track and field programs will send seven student-athletes to the NW Distance Jamboree this Saturday.
Justin Crosswhite, Dominic Giordano, Caitlin Heldt, Hunter Hutton, Emmett Klus, Tim Rambo and Trey Reed will all compete for the Wolves this week.
So far this outdoor season, Crosswhite has competed in the 1,500, 800 and 4x400 relay. He has continued to improve his 1,500 time, coming in at 3:54.07 this past meet at the WOU Tri Meet #2. In the first WOU Tri Meet, he ran his top time in the 800-meter coming in at 1:53.38. Also, at the WOU Tri Meet #2, he was part of the 4x400 relay that came in second. Of the four events he has entered this spring, he has finished first in three and second only in the relay. Crosswhite currently has the 20th-best time in the 1,500 and the 27th-best time in the 800 in NCAA Division II.
Giordano had a strong previous meet at the WOU Tri Meet #2 coming in with season-high marks in both the 800 (2:01.46) and in the 1,500 (4:04.68). Giordano started the outdoor season competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and has since run the 1,500 (twice) and the 800. His time in the steeplechase currently sits 19th in NCAA Division II.
Heldt has raced in three of the meets so far this outdoor season. She has entered in the 1,500 three times, coming in with a top time of 4:49.99. That just bested her previous best mark of 4:50.77 that was set in the outdoor opener at the PNW Team Clash. Heldt's time in the 1,500 currently ranks 86th in NCAA Division II.
Hutton will open his outdoor season this weekend after last competing in the Seattle Pacific Final Qualifier in Feb. 29, 2020 when he was part of the distance medley relay that placed first. Hutton ran in the GNAC Indoor Championships in 2020 entering in the mile and the DMR. Throughout his career he has competed in the 800, 1k, 1,500, mile and relays, in addition to also running cross country.
Klus is out to a strong start this outdoor season, setting a new season-best mark in the 800 during the WOU Tri Meet #1 when he crossed in second with a time of 1:56.45. He has entered in the 800 three times so far this outdoor season, putting together similar times of 1:56.84, 1:56.45 and 1:56.49. Klus also ran a leg of the 4x400 relay that came in first with a time of 3:27.79 at the WOU Tri Meet #2. The foursome in the 4x400 of Klus, Deshaun Stevens, Aaron Hanible and JJ Walker hold the 84th fastest time currently in NCAA Division II. Klus' time in the 800 ranks 71st currently in NCAA Division II.
Rambo opened his outdoor season and competed in his first collegiate meet during the PNW Team Clash when he came in fourth in the 800 with a time of 1:57.76. His current time sits just outside of the top-100 in NCAA Division II.
Reed has entered in three meets so far this outdoor season, racing in the 800 (three times) and the 4x400 relay. His top-time so far this season in the 800 is 1:57.42 that he set last time out at the WOU Tri Meet #2. He ran a leg of the 4x400 relay that came in second with a time of 3:30.46 at the WOU Tri Meet #2. Reed's current time in the 800 sits just outside of the top-100 in NCAA Division II.
Events for the NW Distance Jamboree will start at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Live results for the event can be found here.
