Freeby Moves into 4th on WU's All-Time List with 17:10.42 in 5,000-Meter Run

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University runner Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) reduced her personal record by nearly one minute in the 5,000-meter run to take fifth place in the "A" section at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday, March 29. Freeby was one of several Willamette athletes who established new personal-best results during the meet.

In addition, two Charles Bowles Track Records were set. In the men's javelin, Ryan Brandel from the Reddaway club team registered a winning distance of 228' 2.50". He broke his own previous track record of 223' 8", which he set in 2012.

A track record also was set in the women's triple jump, as Katherine Maus from the University of Portland registered a mark of 38' 8.75". She added to the previous track record of 38' 4", achieved by Clarice Hayward-Lee from the University of Oregon in 2003.

Freeby's time in the women's 5,000-meter "A" section was 17:10.42. She lowered her previous time top of 18:09.40, set during the 2013 Northwest Conference Championships at the Charles Bowles Track. Freeby moved up from 10th into fourth on Willamette's all-time list. She is second on the NCAA Division III performance list this season.

Jessica Mildes from the Community College of Spokane won the 5,000-meter "A" section on Saturday in 16:47.00. Former Willamette runner Kimber Mattox ('11) placed third in the race with a time of 17:07.90

Freeby was one of three Bearcat runners to set personal records during the women's 5,000-meter "A" section. Taylor Ostrander (So., Soldotna, AK/Kenai Central HS) placed sixth in 17:13.53, as she reduced her top time from 18:30.03, set at the Willamette Invitational last year. Ostrander took over fifth on Willamette's all-time list and is fourth in NCAA Division III this season.

Juliet Farnan (So., Lafayette, CA/Camolindo HS) was 15th in 17:53.53. She broke her previous best time of 18:20.96, which she set at last year's Willamette Invitational. She moved into 22nd on the NCAA Division III list.

In the women's 100-meter dash, Kylea Johnson (So., Onalaska WA/Onalaska HS) of Willamette established a new personal record with a time of 12.53 seconds. Johnson, who placed seventh on Saturday, set her former top time of 12.66 seconds at the Lane Preview two weeks ago.

Audrey Taylor (So., Portland, OR/La Salle HS) of WU placed ninth in the 100-meter dash, and also set a personal record, lowering her time to 12.91. She earned a time of 13.09 seconds at the NWC Championships last spring.

Molly Bond (So., Clarkston, WA/Asotin HS) set a personal record in the women's high jump, while tying for fifth place with three other athletes, including two Bearcat teammates. All four jumpers cleared 5' 0.25". Also tied for fifth place from Willamette were Taylor Ottomano (Sr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) and Maya Bowton (So., Spokane, WA/Ferris HS). Lucinda Howard, competing unattached, won the high jump at 5 ' 4.25".

Kaeleigh Thorp (Jr., Sam Leandro, CA/Encinal HS) set a personal mark while placing eighth for the Bearcats in the women's discus. Her top throw covered 122' 3.25". She added just over three feet to her previous record of 119' 2" at the Lane Preview. Thorp also set a personal-best in the hammer throw at 144' 3.75". Her top result previously was 141' 0" at the 2013 NWC Championships.

In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase "A" section, Willamette's Jacob Shafi (So., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS) lowered his career-best time by just over one second. His time of 9:32.50 was good for second place in Saturday's race. Shafi earned the new top time just nine days after running the steeplechase in 9:33.53 in the Willamette vs. Corban Dual.

Jordon Loos (Jr., Springfield, OR/Thurston HS) and Tyler Higley (Jr., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) each set a personal record in the men's hammer throw. Loos placed sixth with a toss of 159' 10.75" and Higly took seventh at 159' 3".

Loos also set a personal record in the javelin throw. His top toss of the day covered 195' 4.25" and moved him into fifth on Willamette's all-time list. He improved from 187' 9" at the 2013 NWC Championships. Loos currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division III this spring.

Also establishing an individual-best for the Bearcats on Saturday was Parris Joyce (So., Portland, OR/Catlin Gabel School). He placed 14th out of 31 runners in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:59.04, lowering his top result by 0.19.

New top marks were set by WU freshmen Paul Schot (Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS), Marisa Hamilton (Fr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) and Maura Forbush (Hollister, CA/San Benito HS). Schot went 20' 6.25" and took fifth place in the men's long jump. Hamilton registered a distance of 124' 2.75" in the women's hammer, while Forbush was timed at 1:08.07 in the women's 400-meter hurdles.

Other top results for the WU men's team:

Dylan Jones (So., Santa Maria, CA/Ernest Righetti HS) placed sixth in the men's 100-meter dash in 10.96 seconds. The event was won by Carlos Oritz of Concordia University (Ore.) in 10.66 seconds, with Jeff Howard of Western Oregon University second at 10.85. Third place was a two-way tie at 10.91, and fourth through eighth were from 10.95 through 10.99.

Tom Fiechtner (Sr., Poway, CA/Cathedral HS) was fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.32 seconds.

Kit Kingstad (Sr., Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS) achieved third place in the 1,500-meter "A" section in 3:56.68. He ranks ninth in NCAA Division III.

Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) was 12th at 15:08.64 while competing in the 5,000-meter "A section. His time is 26th in Division III.

Willamette's 4 x 100-meter relay team earned first place in a season-best time of 42.46 seconds. Competing in the relay were Matt Paparella (So., Glendale, AZ/Ironwood HS), Chris Luetjen (Sr., Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS), Fiechtner and Jones.

Other top results for the Bearcat women's team:

In addition to placing seventh in the 100-meter dash, Johnson took 11th place out of 23 runners in the 200-meter dash in 26.52 seconds.

Annie Marinello (Jr., Corvallis, OR/Philomath HS) was fourth in the 1,500-meter "B" section in 4:50.10. She finished just more than a second away from her personal record of 4:48.92.

Hannah Bressler (So., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) placed third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase "A" section. Her time was 11:39.38.

The Willamette 4 x 100-meter relay team took third place in 50.14 seconds. Eastern Oregon University won the race in 48.94 seconds.

In the women's triple jump, Bekah Daniel (Jr., Silverdale, WA/Central Kitsap HS) was fourth at 37' 0.50" and Elisa Ahern (Jr., Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) was fifth at 36' 4.25". Daniel was third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.40 seconds.

Kelsey Engstrom (Jr., Clinton, WA/South Whidbey HS) finished ninth in the hammer throw. Her top distance of 131' 4.25" was achieved on her second throw in the finals.

Meka Townsend (So., Okanogan, WA/Okanogan HS) placed fifth in the javelin throw, as she registered a top mark of 118' 5.50".

Up Next for Willamette:

The Bearcats will compete in a dual meet with Concordia on Saturday, April 5. The meet will be held at the Charles Bowles Track.