Bearcats Set for S.F. State Distance Carnival, Jenn Boyman Invitational

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University track and field athletes will compete at two meets this weekend. Three Bearcats are entered in the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in California on Friday, April 3, while the remainder of the men's and women's teams will participate in the Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, on Saturday, April 4.

Willamette's first runner at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival will be Olivia Mancl (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), who is set to compete in the second heat of the women's 1,500-meter run at 11:41 a.m. (PDT). Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) and Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) will run in the first heat of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 1:10 p.m.

Mancl is ranked #2 in the nation in NCAA Division III in the 1,500 with a time of 4:34.71. Freeby is ranked #1 and Ostrander is #5 on the NCAA Division III performance list in the steeplechase. Freeby has a time of 10:54.98 this season, while Ostrander owns a time of 11:03.61.

The Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational will get underway at Linfield's Maxwell Field at 10 a.m. (PDT) with both field events and track events. The men's hammer, women's discus, women's pole vault and the men's and women's triple jump will start the field events. A combined race for the men's and women's 10,000-meter run will open the track events.

Mancl, Freeby and Ostrander are three of Willamette's 15 athletes ranked in the top 20 in NCAA Division III through meets on Wednesday, April 1.

Maura Forbush (So., Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) is ranked #11 in the women's 400-meter dash and is #15 in the women's 200-meter dash. Kylea Johnson (Jr., Onalaska WA/Onalaska HS) is ranked #17 in the 200-meter dash.

In the women's 1,500, Mancl is joined by Hannah Swanson (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), who is ranked #16. In the 5,000, Mancl is #12, while Juliet Farnan (Jr., Lafayette, CA/Campolindo HS) is #17.

WU has three runners in the top 5 of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. In addition to Freeby and Ostrander, Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) is listed at #3.

Elisa Ahern (Sr., Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) from Willamette is #20 in the women's triple jump with a top distance of 36' 2". Meka Townsend (Jr., Okanogan, WA/Okanogan HS) is ranked #14 in the javelin. Her top throw covered 131' 4" during the Willamette vs. Corban Dual.

Three Bearcats are ranked in the women's hammer throw, led by Kaeleigh Thorp (Sr., San Leandro, CA/Encinal HS) at #13 with a toss of 157' 7". Jossalyn Wright (Sr., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) is #14 at 154' 11" and Kelsey Engstrom (Sr., Clinton, WA/South Whidbey HS) is #19 at 150' 9".

Jacob Shafi (Jr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS) on the Bearcat men's team is listed at #19 in the steeplechase. His top time is 9:42.88 at the Willamette Invitational this past weekend.

Also for the Willamette men's team, Tyler Higley (Sr., Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) is #20 in the hammer throw. He registered a distance of 163' 7" during the Willamette Invitational.