SALEM, Ore. - Sophomore Amber Rozcicha highlighted the Willamette Invitational for the Portland State track and field team this weekend, winning the 5,000-meters with a personal best of 17 minutes, 51.14 seconds. The women's 4x100 relay team also won at the meet with a track record time of 46.20.

Rozcicha, a native of Newberg, had never run the 5,000 or anything longer than 1,5000-meters in her career and defeated the second-place finisher by over 32 seconds. The time, 17:51.14, also qualifies her for the Big Sky Championship.

The women's 4x100 relay team made some moves this week and adjusted the rotation with Geronne Black and Karene King at the first and second leg, followed by Joenisha Vinson running third and Anaiah Rhodes at the anchor. The four managed to set a track record with its winning time of 46.20. The quartet's normal lineup is Black, Vinson, Rhodes and King.

Freshman Allison Burkett qualified for the Big Sky Outdoor Championship with a throw of 133-7 to finish second. She improved her season-best by almost five feet.

Making her debut for the Vikings this weekend was junior Dominique Maloney, a transfer from Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan. The Tortola, British Virgin Islands native finished second in the 200-meters by recording a 25.98. Maloney was a NJCAA indoor championship qualifier in the 400-meters in 2010.

Other personal-records were also set at the meet with freshman Shae Carson leading the way in the discus. Carson improved her PR by almost 13 feet with a throw of 136-1 to finish third. The Couer d'Alene, Idaho native was a mere one inch shy of qualifying for the Big Sky Outdoor Championship in the event.

Also just shy of reaching a Big Sky standard was freshman Luke Leddige in the 110-meter hurdles. Leddige, a former OSAA 6A state champion in the event, recorded a 15.12 in the event, .02 seconds shy of the qualification mark.

Sophomore Brittany Long finished second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:58.58, to improve to No. 4 all-time in the event. She was also just shy of Big Sky Championship contention by only 17 seconds.

Senior Andrew Salg beat his personal-best in the 10,000-meters by 1:19 minutes with his time of 31:20.90 to finish 11th. Salg also improves to No. 4 all-time in PSU record book with his effort in Salem.

Finally, sophomore Nate Lightner finished third in the 400-meter hurdles, his first such race of the season, with a time of 55.80 seconds. He was .30 seconds shy of the qualifying for the outdoor championship.

The Viks will return to action next Saturday for the Mondo Invitational April 9 at Sacramento State. The track will also serve host the Big Sky Championship May 11-14.