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

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

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).

In her first trip to the championships as a freshman in 2013, Ostrander placed 22nd in the steeplechase. Last year, she advanced to the final and took 11th place overall.

Ostrander is ranked 14th in NCAA Division III in the steeplechase this season. She recorded her top time of the year during the San Francisco State Distance Carnival, as she completed the race in 10:52.24. At the 2015 Northwest Conference Championships, she placed second behind Freeby in the steeplechase. Ostrander won the 5,000-meter run and was second in the 10,000.

Prelims are scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 21 at 5:20 p.m. EDT/2:20 p.m. PDT. The final race is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 a.m. PDT on Saturday, May 23.

Ostrander's career-best time in the steeplechase is 10:40.86 at the Oregon Twilight on May 9, 2014. Also in 2014, she took first place at the NWC Championships in the steeplechase and the 5,000, and earned second place in the 1,500.

She also has excelled in cross country for the Bearcats. This past fall, she won the NWC individual title in the women's 6-kilometer race with a time of 22.25.2 as she led a 1-2-3-4-6 finish by the Bearcats. She placed fifth at the NCAA West Regional and went on to run for Willamette at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Bearcats won NWC and West Region titles before placing 15th in the nation.

Overall, Ostrander has competed at the NCAA Championships in cross country three times. She helped Willamette finish 12th in the team standings in 2013.