By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University runner Olivia Mancl (Jr./So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Track Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance in the 5,000-meter run during the Willamette Invitational.

Mancl set a personal record time of 16:46.99 to take second place in the "A" Section of the 5,000 as part of the Celebration of Distance at the end of the meet. It was the second fastest time in Willamette and NWC history behind the record of 16:28.54 set by Sarah Zerzan ('08) for the Bearcats in 2007.

Her new time lowered Mancl's career-best by 41.44 seconds from her previous top time, set earlier this season. Mancl leads NCAA Division III with the fastest time in the 5,000 this season.

Mancl and several other Willamette track and field athletes will compete at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on Friday, April 1. Another group of Bearcats will participate in the Jenn Boymann Memorial Invitational at Linfield College on Saturday, April 2.