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

SALEM, Ore. -- Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) of Willamette University has been a talented competitor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase throughout her career. She has qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships all four years. She earned All-America honors by finishing in fourth place in 2013.

This week, she will complete her career with the Bearcats by running in the steeplechase at the 2015 NCAA Championships at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York.Prelims are scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 21 at 5:20 p.m. EDT/2:20 p.m. PDT. The final is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 a.m. PDT on Saturday, May 23.

In her first appearance at the NCAA meet as a freshman in 2012, Freeby took 13th place in the steeplechase. After placing fourth as a sophomore, she returned to the NCAA Championships as a junior in 2014, placing 17th despite recovering from an injury.

Freeby's 10:30.09 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival is the fastest steeplechase in NCAA Division III this season. She ranks second on Willamette's all-time list, trailing only Kimber Mattox's ('11) time of 10:23.34 at the 2011 NCAA Championships.

Defending national champion Lucy Cheadle of Washington University (Mo.) is fourth on the performance list with a time of 10:35.01. Other top challengers in the steeplechase are Hannah Cole from Williams College (Mass.), with a top time of 10:30.97, Ruth Steinke from Carleton College (Minn.), with a best time of 10:34.06, and McKenzie Diemer from Calvin College (Mich.), with a time of 10:36.75.

Twenty-two athletes were selected to compete in the women's steeplechase at the NCAA Championships. The field includes three runners from Willamette -- Freeby as well as Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) and Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS). Fourteen athletes -- the top four finishers in each preliminary heat and the next six fastest times -- will advance to the final.

Freeby won Northwest Conference steeplechase championships in 2012, 2013 and 2015. She also won the NWC title in the 1,500-meter run in 2014. During cross country season, she won the NWC individual title in 2013, was third in 2012 and 2014, and placed fifth in 2011. Freeby helped the Bearcats win the NWC team championship as a junior and a senior.

She placed ninth at the West Regional in cross country in 2011 and 2012. She won the West Region title in 2013 and placed second in 2014. She was named West Region Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year as a junior.

In addition, Freeby competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships all four years. She earned All-America honors in cross country in 2013 by placing eighth in the nation. She helped Willamette finish 12th at the NCAA meet in 2013 and contributed to the Bearcats earning 15th place in 2014.