Swanson Finishes 13th in 3,000-meter Steeplechase at NCAA Championships

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Willamette University distance runner Hannah Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) took 13th place in the final of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2018 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 26 at Roger Harring Stadium. It was the second time that Swanson has finished 13th at the NCAA Championships. In 2016, Swanson was 13th in the women's 1,500-meter run.

Swanson earned a time of 11:03.15 in the steeplechase final. Reaching the championship race completed a strong season for Swanson, who did not compete in the steeplechase until this year.

Annie Rodenfels from Centre College (Ky.) won the NCAA steeplechase title with a time of 10:15.76. She passed Kayla Leland of Whitworth University on the final two barriers and won by 1.22 seconds. Leland finished in second place at 10:16.54. Hannah Roeske of Wheaton College (Ill.) was third in 10:23.26. Marissa Mount of Whitworth took fourth in 10:24.65 and Alison Lindsay of Washington University (Mo.) was fifth at 10:25.65.

Swanson competed at a total of five NCAA championships during her career. In addition to participating at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 1,500-meter run in 2016 and the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2018, she also ran at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017. She contributed to Willamette placing 10th in the cross country team standings in 2015 and helped the Bearcats place 15th in 2014.

At Willamette, Swanson ranks fifth all-time in the 1,500-meter run and the steeplechase. She is ninth in cross country at the 5,000-meter distance.