2014-15 Track & Field News

Season
Willamette Track and Field Teams Register All-Academic Honors
Four Willamette Track and Field Athletes Receive All-Academic Honors
Four Willamette Track and Field Athletes Receive All-Academic Honors

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Four members of the Willamette University women's track and field team have been chosen for the 2014-15 NCAA Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team as selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Student-athletes earned the award through academic and athletic success.

Symmonds Wins U.S. 800-meter Title for Sixth Time
Symmonds Wins U.S. 800-meter Title for Sixth Time

EUGENE, Ore. -- Former Willamette University athlete Nick Symmonds ('06) has earned a reputation for incredible finishes to win big races. Symmonds did it again at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships on Sunday, June 28 at Hayward Field, as he rallied form eighth place at the start of the second lap to win the men's 800-meter final.

Freeby Places Fourth in 3,000-meter Steeplechase for All-America Honors
Freeby Places Fourth in 3,000-meter Steeplechase for All-America Honors

CANTON, N.Y. -- Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) of Willamette University registered a time of 10:41.63 to take fourth place in the final of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 23. Freeby earned All-America honors for the second time in the steeplechase.

Freeby, Ostrander and Mancl Qualify for Finals at NCAA Championships
Freeby, Ostrander and Mancl Qualify for Finals at NCAA Championships

CANTON, N.Y. -- On the first day of competition at 2015 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 21, three Bearcats qualified for the finals of their respective events at Merrick-Pinkard Track on the campus of the St. Lawrence University.

NCAA Qualifier:  Michaela Freeby in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase
NCAA Qualifier: Michaela Freeby in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase

SALEM, Ore. -- Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) of Willamette University has been a talented competitor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase throughout her career. She has qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships all four years. She earned All-America honors by finishing in fourth place in 2013.

NCAA Qualifier:  Taylor Ostrander in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase
NCAA Qualifier: Taylor Ostrander in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase

SALEM, Ore. -- Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) is making her third trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week. She will be competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, along with teammates Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) and Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS).

Bearcats are Ready for NCAA Championships at St. Lawrence University
Bearcats are Ready for NCAA Championships at St. Lawrence University

CANTON, N.Y. -- Willamette University will be represented by four women's track and field athletes when the 2015 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin on Thursday, May 21 at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. The NCAA Championships will continue at Merrick-Pinkard Track through Saturday, May 23.

NCAA Qualifier:  Olivia Mancl in the 1,500-meter Run
NCAA Qualifier: Olivia Mancl in the 1,500-meter Run

SALEM, Ore. -- It has already been an outstanding athletic year for Olivia Mancl (So./Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) of Willamette University. In cross country, she placed second in the Northwest Conference, was third at the West Regional and placed 48th at the NCAA Championships. This spring, she won the NWC title in the 1,500-meter run.

Bearcats are Ranked #4 in West Region in Women's Track and Field
Bearcats are Ranked #4 in West Region in Women's Track and Field

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's track and field team has retained the #4 ranking in the West Region of NCAA Division III this week, as released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Bearcats have been ranked #4 throughout the season.

NCAA Qualifier:  Hannah Bressler in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase
NCAA Qualifier: Hannah Bressler in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase

SALEM, Ore. -- Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) of Willamette University will be competing at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the first time later this week. She will be running in the preliminary heats of the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday, May 21. The final in the steeplechase is on Saturday, May 23.

Freeby, Ostrander, Bressler and Mancl Qualify for NCAA Championships
Freeby, Ostrander, Bressler and Mancl Qualify for NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Four Willamette University women's track and field athletes have been chosen for the 2015 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The championships will be hosted by St. Lawrence University in upstate New York from May 21-23.

Mancl Runs 1,500 in 4:32.12, Moves into 14th in NCAA Division III
Mancl Runs 1,500 in 4:32.12, Moves into 14th in NCAA Division III

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Olivia Mancl (So./Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) set a personal record and moved into 14th place on the NCAA Division III performance list with a time of 4:32.12 in the women's 1,500-meter run at the Gregory Invitational on Friday, May 14. The last chance meet was hosted by North Central College.

Higley and Townsend Compete at GFU Final Qualifier
Higley and Townsend Compete at GFU Final Qualifier

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Willamette University track and field athletes Tyler Higley (Sr., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) and Meka Townsend (Jr., Okanogan, WA/Okanogan HS) competed at the GFU NCAA Final Qualifier on Thursday, May 14 at Stoffer Family Stadium. Higley participated in the men's shot put and Townsend was entered in the women's javelin throw.

Bearcats Prepare for Last Chance Meets in Track and Field
Bearcats Prepare for Last Chance Meets in Track and Field

SALEM, Ore. -- Six athletes from the Willamette University track and field teams will compete in last chance meets this week with the selection of national qualifiers just a few days away. Two Bearcats will compete in field events at the GFU NCAA Final Qualifier on Thursday, May 14 and four WU athletes will run at the Gregory Invitational at North Central College (Illinois) on Friday, May 15.

Bearcat Women's Track Team is Ranked #4 in West Region
Bearcat Women's Track Team is Ranked #4 in West Region

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's team in women's track and field remains #4 this week in the West Region rankings for NCAA Division III, as released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).