Johnson, Daniel and Freeby Win Events on Second Day of Lane Preview

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

EUGENE, ORE. -- Three Willamette University athletes won events during the second day of the Lane Preview in track and field on Saturday, March 15. All events except for the throwing events were held on Saturday. Lane Community College hosted the meet.

Kylea Johnson (So., Onalaska WA/Onalaska HS) finished first in the women's 100-meter dash.Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) won the women's 800-meter run and Bekah Daniel (Jr., Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap HS) was first in the women's long jump.

Johnson prevailed in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.66 seconds. Freeby took first place in the 800-meter run in 2:17.69. Daniel led a 1-2 finish for the Bearcats in the long jump, as she went 17' 8". Teammate Elisa Ahern (Jr., Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) was second at 17' 4".

With her time on Saturday, Johnson improved her career-best by .15, as she lowered it from 12.81, set at the Willamette Invitational on April 6, 2013. Audrey Taylor (So., Portland, OR/La Salle HS) of WU was fourth in the 100 with a time of 13.14 seconds.

Daniel set a personal record in the long jump and moved from a tie for 10th up to sixth on Willamette's all-time list. Her previous top jump was 17' 5.25" inches, set earlier this year at the Willamette Opener on March 1. Ahern also established a personal best, improving on a leap of 16' 9.25 inches at the Willamette Opener.

Freeby's time in the 800 also represented a personal record, as she led a 1-3-5 finish for the Bearcats. Annette Marinello (Jr., Corvallis, OR/Philomath HS) placed third in 2:20.91 and Hannah Bressler (So., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) was fifth at 2:22.16.

Taylor Ottomano (Sr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) took third place for WU in the women's triple jump and was third in the high jump. Her combined distance in the triple jump was 32' 10.25". She cleared 5' 1" in the high jump.

Placing third in the women's 1,500-meter run was Taylor Ostrander (So., Soldotna, AK/Kenai Central HS) of Willamette in 4:46.24. She lowered her personal best from 4:51.32 just a week ago at the Lewis & Clark Tri Meet. Ami Boucher (Fr., Concord, CA/Northgate HS) was fifth in 4:54.56, roughly one second below her time of 4:55.55 at L&C.

Maya Kaup (Fr., Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) took third in the women's 100-meter hurdles for Willamette. She completed the race in 17.19 seconds. Maura Forbush (Fr., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) was fourth in the women's 400-meter hurdles, as she registered a time of 1:10.23.

Sprinters Dylan Jones (So., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) and Chris Luetjen (Sr., Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS) from the Willamette men's team excelled in the 100-meter dash. Jones achieved third place in 11.11 seconds, followed immediately by Luetjen, who took fourth place in 11.12.

Tom Fiechtner (Sr., Poway, CA/Cathedral HS) of WU was fourth in the men's 400-meter dash. He reached the finish line in 51.20 seconds.

Two Bearcats placed in the top eight in the men's 800-meter run. Kit Kingstad (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS) took sixth in 1:58.36 and Quinn Lindley (Jr., Monmouth, OR/Central HS) was eighth at 1:59.08.

In the men's 1,500-meter run, Daniel Swanson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) attained fourth place for the Bearcats. His time was 3:58.63.

Willamette will take on Corban University in dual meet on Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 at the Charles Bowles Track.