FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-- The Roadrunners were represented by Bryan Wilmert (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) at the NCAA Division I West Regional track and field meet on Friday. With a best distance of 193-10, Wilmert placed 5th in his flight but 26th in the pool of the West's top 48 hammer throwers.

Wilmert sat in the middle of his flight after the first two throws but saved his best for last. In the final throw of the preliminaries, the Bakersfield native jumped from 10th place to fifth with a seven-foot increase over his previous best of 186-08. Wilmert was in the first of three flights with all of the highest seeded throwers to come, so he began to drop down as more competitors took their throws. The junior represented Bakersfield well, finishing in 26th place. Only the top 16 performers of the preliminary round advanced to the final three throws. The top 12 student-athletes will represent their respective universities at the NCAA Outdoor Championship in June.

"We had some excellent performances this season and many personal best marks and CSUB all-time performances," said Bakersfield's Director of Track and Field, Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "We came together as a team at the confernece championships and sent a small but team-oriented group. I'm pleased we saw academic success with many of our student-athletes. They continue to inspire us all."

With the trip to Arkansas, Wilmert became the first Roadrunner to represent Bakersfield at the West Regional since 2012. Despite not advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championship, the junior thrower put together a solid season. His season's best throw of 197-00 was second best in the WAC and moved Wilmert into a tie for seventh all-time in Bakersfield's Top 20 performers in the hammer. Wilmert finished in the top five a total of seven times in the 2014 outdoor season. He also claimed first place at two meets including a win in Utah which made him Bakersfield's first WAC track and field champion.

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