Swanson Runs 1,500 in 4:37.70, Carlson Sets Career-Best in Steeple at SFSU

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

HAYWARD, Calif. -- Willamette University runner Hannah Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) registered a time of 4:37.70 to take 31st out of 166 runners in the women's 1,500-meter run at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on Friday, March 30 at Chabot College. In other action at the meet on Friday, Keith Carlson (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA//Bainbridge HS) of Willamette set a personal record of 9:49.87 in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. The competition, featuring large fields in every event, will conclude on Saturday, March 31.

San Francisco State University hosts the Distance Carnival each season. This year, the meet was moved to Chabot College due to damage sustained by SFSU's Cox Stadium track.

Swanson ran in the third of 14 heats in the women's 1,500. Her time at SFSU almost matched exactly the time she earned during the Charles Bowles Celebration of Distance at the Willamette Invitational on March 24. Swanson's time at the Willamette Invitational was 4:37.65, placing her sixth on the NCAA Division III performance list.

Carlson placed third out of 20 runners in the fifth heat of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. He broke his previous personal record of 9:50.53 which he set at last year's Willamette Invitaitonal. On Friday at SFSU, teammate Michael Montague (So., San Diego, CA/Canyon Crest Academy) also competed in the steeplechase and produced a time of 9:55.80.

Joining Swanson in the women's 1,500 for Willamette were Hazel Carr (Jr., Seattle, WAThe Northwest School) and Isabel Duxbury (Fr., Seattle, WAUniversity Prep). Carr ran the race in 5:07.38 and Duxbury earned a time of 5:11.78.

Emily Evans (Jr., Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS) of Willamette ran in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. She was timed at 12:13.11.

Also for Willamette, Jack Kobylka (Sr., Napa, CA/Vintage HS) and Cayce Reese (Fr., Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) participated in the men's 1,500-meter run. Kobylka achieved a time of 4:06.15. Reese completed the race in 4:08.25.

Several Bearcats are scheduled to compete at the SFSU Distance Carnival on Saturday. They are Jack Wellman (Sr., Alameda, CAAlameda HS), Connor Giannini (So., Veradale, WAGonzaga Prep), Brian Peck (So., Reno, NV/Reno HS), Saige Swan (So., Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS), Hope Duenas (So., Covina, CA/Covina HS), Jewell Sparks (Sr., San Francisco, CA/Lick Wilmerding HS), Teneah Rushen (Sr., Portland, OR/Franklin HS) and Bridgette Peirce (Sr., Reno, NV/Earl Wooster HS).