By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Taylor Ostrander (Sr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) from Willamette University is preparing for her eighth NCAA championship meet -- four in cross country and four in track and field. She will be competing in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase for the fourth time when action gets underway at the 2016 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 26.

Preliminary heats in the steeplechase are set for 3:30 p.m. CDT/1:30 p.m. PDT on Thursday. The championship final is scheduled for Saturday, May 28 at 12:45 p.m. CDT/10:45 a.m. PDT.

Prior to this week, Ostrander's top finish in the steeplechase at the NCAA championships was 11th place in 2014. She finished 13th in 2015 and took 22nd place in 2013.

Ostrander has placed in the top three at the Northwest Conference championships in the steeplechase three times. She won the NWC title in 2014, took second in 2015 and was third in 2013.

This year, she did not compete in the steeplechase at the NWC Championships, but took first place in the 5,000-meter run for the third consecutive season. She placed second in the 10,000-meter run in 2015 and was sixth in the 5,000-meter run in 2013.

Her career-best time in the steeplechase is 10:40.86, which she set at the Oregon Twilight in 2014. She ranks third on Willamette's all-time list.

In addition, Ostrander put together an outstanding cross country career at Willamette. She earned All-America honors this past fall by placing 26th at the 2015 NCAA Championships. She also competed at the national meet in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She helped Willamette placed 10th in the nation this past season. The Bearcats were 12th in 2013, took 15th in 2014 and placed 32nd in 2012.

Ostrander won the NWC individual women's cross country championship in 2014. She placed second in 2013 and 2015. She helped WU win NWC team titles in 2013 and 2014, plus team titles at the NCAA West Regional in 2014 and 2015. Ostrander took third in the West Region in 2015, was fourth in 2013 and placed fifth in 2014.

She was recently named this year's recipient of the Jean Williams Award as Willamette's top women's senior student-athlete. The Williams Award is presented annually by the Athletics Department to a graduating student-athlete who has developed and demonstrated strong leadership skills and outstanding athleticism, while maintaining a high rank of scholarship during her collegiate career.