Ostrander Places Third in 3,000-Meter Steeplechase at Oregon Twilight

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- Taylor Ostrander (So., Soldotna, AK/Kenai Central HS) from Willamette University set a personal record of 10:40.86 to place third in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Oregon Twilight on Friday, May 9 at Hayward Field. Ostrander's time was the fastest by a Bearcat this season, as she moved into third on Willamette's all-time list.

The women's steeplechase was won by former Willamette runner Kimber Mattox ('11), who achieved a time of 10:00.44. Mattox currently competes for Team Run Eugene. Julia Webb from the Bowerman Track Club placed second at 10:10.20.

Ostrander was the first collegiate finisher. She completed the race several seconds in front of Regan Yee from Trinity Western in fourth at 10:44.03 and Hannah Mittelstaedt from Seattle University in fifth at 10:44.09. Hannah Bressler (So., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) of Willamette was eighth in a personal record time of 11:07.68.

Prior to Friday night, Ostrander's career-best time in the steeplechase was 10:46.21 during the Willamette vs. Corban Dual on March 20. Bressler's previous top time was 11:08.08 at the Northwest Conference Championships on March 25.

With their new times, Ostrander moved into fourth on the NCAA Division III performance list, while Bressler's ranking improved to 28th. Teammate Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) is fifth on the performance list at 10:44.52.

Kit Kingstad (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS) earned his best time of the season for the Bearcats in the men's 1,500-meter run, as he finished in 3:50.72 to take seventh place. In the process, he moved into 15th on the NCAA performance list. Sam Atkin from Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) achieved first place in the 1,500 at 3:46.12.

Bekah Daniel (Sr., Jr. elig., Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap HS) of WU placed second in the women's triple jump. She covered a distance of 37' 5.75". Katherine Maus from the University of Portland won the triple jump at 38' 11.50". Madelayne Varela from the University of Oregon was third at 36' 9".

Daniel's top distance of the year remained 37' 8", which ranks 22nd on the NCAA list. She achieved her mark while winning the NWC title on March 26.

Jordan Loos (Jr., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS) registered a throw of 197' 5" on Friday to placed sixth in the men's javelin. Cyrus Hostetler won the javelin with a meet record distance of 263' 5". Hostetler, a former University of Oregon track and field athlete, competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Loos set the Willamette school record at 214' 7" on March 26 on his way to winning an NWC championship. He is ranked second in NCAA Division III.

Willamette's Taylor Ottomano (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) was sixth in the high jump. She cleared 5' 2.25". Former Oregon runner Brianne Theisen-Eaton from Nike/Oregon Track Club Elite won the high jump at 5' 10."

In the men's 4 x 100-meter relay, the Bearcats did not register a time after one of the exchanges occurred outside of the relay handoff zone.

NCAA Championship selections will be announced on Sunday, May 18. The top 20 athletes in each men's event and the top 22 athletes in each women's event will qualify to compete.

Up Next for the Bearcats:

Several Willamette athletes will participate in the Linfield Open on Saturday, May 10. The meet will be held at Maxwell Field starting at 10 a.m. (PDT).