By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) of Willamette University will be competing at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the first time later this week. She will be running in the preliminary heats of the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday, May 21. The final in the steeplechase is on Saturday, May 23.

Prelims are scheduled to begin on Thursday at 5:20 p.m. EDT/2:20 p.m. PDT. The final race is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 a.m. PDT on Saturday.

Bressler was one of the last athletes to know for sure that she would be participating in the NCAA Championships. She was ranked 23rd in the steeplechase on the Division III performance list for the season and needed one athlete above her to pull out of the event. One athlete chose not to compete in the steeplechase, and Bressler was ready to go.

Entering the current season, Bressler's best time in the steeplechase was 11:07.68 at the Oregon Twilight on May 9, 2014 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.Her top time this season -- it's her personal record -- is 10:59.31 during the Willamette vs. Corban Dual Meet on March 19. Breaking the 11-minute barrier moved her into fifth on Willamette's all-time list.

Bressler is one of three Bearcats who will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this week. Also running for Willamette will be Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) and Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS).

A few weeks ago, Bressler placed fourth in the steeplechase at the 2015 Northwest Conference Championships. She was second in the NWC in the steeplechase in 2014 and placed fourth as a freshman in 2013.

Although the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are new for Bressler, she isn't new to competing at the national level. She ran at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2013 and 2014, helping the Bearcats place 12th and 15th, respectively, as a team.