By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Willamette University runner Taylor Ostrander (Sr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) has qualified for the final in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the third year in a row after placing sixth in the first of two heats on Thursday, May 26 at Walston-Hoover Stadium.

During her preliminary heat, Ostrander registered a time of 11:05.33. She will compete in the national championship race on Saturday, May 28 at 12:45 p.m. CDT/10:45 a.m. PDT.

In her previous two trips to the finals, Ostrander placed 11th in 2014 and was 13th in 2015. She also competed at the NCAA Championships as a freshman and finished 22nd. In addition, Ostrander has competed at four NCAA cross country championships, giving her eight championship appearances overall. She earned All-America honors in cross country this past fall by placing 26th in the nation.

The first heat in this year's steeplechase was won by Erin Hermann from Hope College (Mich.), who completed the race in 10:59.85. Sarah Jonathan of Macalester College (Minn.) was second in 11:00.32 and Sara Rosenzweig placed third in 11:00.79. Jessie Cardin from Westfield State University (Mass.) finished fourth in 11:01.61, and Sarah Fowler from Ohio Wesleyan University was fifth in 11:01.85.

Each of the top five finishers in the first heat, as well as the top five finishers in the second heat, automatically earned berths into Saturday's final. The runners with the next four fastest times also advanced.

Ostrander was among the top five runners for most of the first heat. She moved back a bit late in the race, but still finished sixth to secure one of the at-large bids into the final.

Hannah Bressler (Sr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) of Willamette placed 10th in the first heat of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase and took 21st overall with a time of 11:36.78. Bressler also placed 21st at the NCAA Championships in 2015.

Willamette's Hannah Swanson (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) placed fifth in the second of two heats in the women's 1,500-meter run on Thursday. She achieved a time of 4:35.68, but narrowly missed advancing to the final. Swanson was toward the back of a close pack for most of the race. She was seventh at the start of the final back stretch and gained ground to place fifth in the heat.

The top four finishers in each heat reached the final, along with the runners recording the next four fastest times. The four at-large bids went to runners in the first heat. Abigail Nadler from Middlebury College (Vt.) grabbed the final berth in 4:35.48, just 0.20 faster than Swanson.

Rachel Shine of SUNY Oneonta (N.Y.) won the second heat in 4:32.77. Emily Gapinski from University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was victorious in the first heat with a time of 4:33.75.

Swanson, competing at an NCAA championship in track and field for the first time, placed 13th in the nation.

Also for the Bearcats, Patrick Loftus (So., Santa Rosa, CA/Sonoma Academy) placed 19th overall in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:46.85. It was his first trip to the NCAA championships in track and field.

Olivia Mancl (Jr./So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) of Willamette will be one of 22 competitors in the final of the women's 5,000-meter run on Saturday, May 28 at 4:25 p.m. CDT/2:25 p.m. PDT. There are no preliminary heats in the 5,000.