By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
EUGENE, Ore. -- Taylor Ostrander (Sr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) of Willamette University lowered her season-best time by nearly five seconds in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Oregon Relays on Friday, April 15 at Hayward Field. A bit later, teammate Hannah Swanson (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) set a career-best time of 4:35.04 in the women's 1,500-meter run.
Ostrander completed the steeplechase in 10:52.53 on Friday and took seventh in the event, while finishing less than four seconds out of fourth place. She reduced her top time of the season from 10:57.45, which she earned a week ago in Monmouth, Oregon, at the John Knight Twilight on April 8.
The new season-best for Ostrander moved her up from fifth to third on the NCAA Division III performance list for 2016. She is narrowly in front of teammate Hannah Bressler (Sr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) from Willamette, who is fourth with a time of 10:52.58 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on April 1.
Ostrander has competed in the steeplechase at each of the past three NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She placed 13th in the nation last season. Bressler also participated in the steeplechase at the 2015 NCAA Championships, and earned 21st place.
The top three finishers in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Oregon Relays represented running clubs. Carrie Dimoff of Bowerman Track Club won the race in 10:18.96. Caroline Austin from Seattle Speed was second at 10:23.20, and Julia Webb placed third for Bowerman TC at 10:30.12.
Jessica Bailey from University of Montana was the top collegiate finisher in fourth place at 10:48.83. Former WU runner Michaela Freeby competed for Team Run Eugene and took fifth place in 10:49.58. Brittany Grant of Western Washington University was sixth at 10:52.48, just .05 in front of Ostrander.
Swanson's time of 4:35.04 was 1.86 seconds faster than her previous top result of 4:36.90, which she set earlier this year at the SFSU Distance Carnival. Swanson took fifth place out of 14 runners in her heat at the Oregon Relays, finishing behind two runners from University of Oregon in first and third and two runners from Oregon State University in second and fourth.
Swanson is now eighth on Willamette's all-time list in the 1,500. She was 10th on the list with her previous top time.
With her new career-best time, Swanson advanced from 11th to ninth on the NCAA performance list in the 1,500-meter run. WU teammate Olivia Mancl (Jr./So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) ranks fourth in NCAA Division III in the 1,500 with a time of 4:30.85 at the SFSU Distance Carnival.
The Willamette women's 4 x 100-meter relay team of Jewell Sparks (So., San Francisco, CA/Lick Wilmerding HS), Teneah Rushen (So., Portland, OR/Franklin HS), Maura Forbush (Jr., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) and Kylea Johnson (Sr., Onalaska, WA/Onalaska HS) will compete at the Oregon Relays on Saturday (April 16). They are scheduled to run at approximately 12:40 p.m. (PDT).
Additional Bearcat track and field athletes will participate in the Cougar Invitational on Saturday at Clackamas Community College. Action at Pioneer Stadium in Oregon City, Oregon, is set to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT).
