By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- For Hannah Bressler (Sr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS), the 2016 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships have provided her with a second trip to nationals in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. She is one of 22 athletes from throughout Division III who will compete in the event later this week.

Last year, Bressler competed at the NCAA Championships and finished 21st in the nation in the steeplechase. Earlier that season, she placed fourth in the steeplechase at the 2015 NWC Championships. Her top time of the year was 10:59.31.

This season, she recorded a career-best time of 10:52.58 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on April 1 to move into fifth place on Willamette's all-time list. She won the 3,000-meter steeplechase as this year's NWC Championships, earning a time of 10:56.20, as she edged out Kellyn Roiko of Whitworth University by 0.14 to win the title.

Bressler will be joined by teammate Taylor Ostrander (Sr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) in the NCAA steeplechase prelims on Thursday, May 26 at 3:30 p.m. CDT/1:30 p.m. PDT. Both runners will be looking to reach the final in the steeplechase, which is slated for 12:45 p.m. CDT/10:45 a.m. PDT on Saturday, May 28.

Last year, Bressler and Ostrander also competed together at the NCAA Championships. Ostrander advanced to the final and placed 13th overall.

Bressler has participated in three NCAA Championships in cross country. She contributed to Willamette placing 12th in the team standings in 2013, followed by 15th place in 2014 and 10th place this past fall. During the 2014 season, she was sixth individually in the NWC and took 12th at the NCAA West Regional. In 2015, she finished 24th at the West Regional.

She helped the Bearcats win NWC team championships in 2013 and 2014, plus West Region titles in 2014 and 2015. She earned First Team All-NWC honors in 2013 and was named All-West Region in 2014 and 2015.