College track and field: Mason Villarma runs third-fastest men’s 1,500 in Gonzaga history

EUGENE – Mason Villarma ran the third-fastest men’s 1,500 meters in Gonzaga track and field history Friday during the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field.

Villarma finished in fourth place in 3 minutes, 46.26 seconds to improve his personal record of 3:47.12, also set on the same track.

The Bulldogs freshman led the field after the third lap, but Oregon’s Matthew Maton used a big kick in the final 300 meters to win in 3:42.68.

GU senior Kyle Branch set a personal record in the 3,000 steeplechase at 9:03.03.

Whitworth senior Corey Burt placed fifth in the men’s discus at 164 feet, 6 inches, topping his previous best by more than 6 feet. Burt also placed fifth in the shot put at 53-2 1/4.

Pirates sophomore Andrew Bloom, who holds the best men’s javelin mark in Division III (219-2), placed second in the event at 215-1.