Freeby, Ostrander, Bressler and Mancl Qualify for NCAA Championships

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

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.

Willamette's selections are Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) and Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, as well as Olivia Mancl (So./Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) in the 1,500-meter run.

The top 22 athletes in each women's event and the top 20 athletes in each men's event were given the chance to participate. If athletes were unable to compete due to injury or chose not to compete in a particular event, additional athletes were added to complete the field in that event.

Freeby is ranked first on the NCAA Division III performance list in the steeplechase with a top time of 10:30.09. She recorded her time at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on April 3. Ostrander is listed 14th in Division III at 10:52.24. Ostrander also registered her best time at the SFSU Distance Carnival.

Bressler holds 23rd on the performance list in the steeplechase. Her top time this season was 10:59.31, as she set her personal record at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual on March 19.

Mancl secured her bid to the NCAA Championships by running a personal record time of 4:32.12 in the 1,500 at the Gregory Invitational in Naperville, Illinois, on Friday, May 15. Her previous career best was 4:34.64 at the OSU High Performance Meet on May 1. Mancl is 14th on the performance list and 12th among athletes selected for the NCAA Championships.