WILLAMETTE
2008
Willamette University Track and Field COACHING STAFF
Sam Lapray ‘87 Assistant Coach Sprints, Hurdles, Multi Events
8th Season
Sam Lapray (’87) is entering his eighth season as an assistant with Willamette Track & Field. Sam works with the sprinters and hurdlers. He also directs the conditioning program for the sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and vaulters. Lapray has overseen a resurgance of the sprints and hurdles at Willamette. In recent years, Lapray has helped guide the Bearcats to the National Championships in the women’s 400 hurdles, 100 hurdles, 4 x 400 relay, 4 x 100 relay and the men’s decathlon. The women’s 4 x 400 relay has earned All-American status the past three seasons, while lowering the school record to 3:47.42. His athletes have achieved 51 Top 10 marks at WU and hold four school records. As a student-athlete at Willamette, Lapray was named All-NWC in football and track. He holds the Bearcats’ #4 all-time mark in the 110 hurdles (14.87).
Soren Sorenson Assistant Coach Throws
8th Season
Soren Sorensen begins his 8th year at Willamette, where he oversees the development of the throwers. As a coach for the Bearcats, he has developed athletes who have been competitive at the conference and national levels. During 2005, Kelsey Stolz, Sophia Dentzel, and Jeff Liepman all represented Willamette at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the javelin, with Stolz earning All-American honors. Sorensen also guided Nate Matlock to a pair of All-American awards in the hammer throw and school records in the shot put and hammer throw. In 2006, Sorenson helped Dentzel achieve All-American status, as she finished 6th at the NCAA Championships. Sorensen is a 1987 graduate of Western Oregon University, where he competed in track and field and powerlifting. He was a two-time NAIA All-American after placing fourth in the hammer throw and fifth in the discus in 1987. As a powerlifter, he won a Collegiate National Powerlifting Championship in 1986. Later, he won a U.S. Powerlifting title in 1991.
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