SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University cross country and track and field runner Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) has been chosen as one of three finalists for the 2014-15 Ad Rutschman Small-College Women's Athlete of the Year Award. Freeby was nominated by Willamette as part of the selection process for the Oregon Sports Awards.

The Ad Rutschman Small College Women's Athlete of the Year and other award winners will be announced during the 63rd Annual Oregon Sports Awards Show, scheduled for Thursday, June 11 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike World Campus in Beaverton, Ore. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. (PDT).

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett will be the host of this year's awards show. The show is being presented by The Oregonian and OregonLive.com. The event will be available through a live webcast courtesy of the Oregon Sports Awards.

Each year, the Oregon Sports Awards show honors athletes, coaches, teams and organizations with ties to the State of Oregon. In previous years, nominations were based on the calendar year and the awards show was held in January or February. This year, the event has moved in order to cover the 2014-15 academic year since many of the awards go to collegiate athletes and high school students.

Joining Freeby as finalists for the Ad Rutschman Small-College Women's Athlete of the Year Award are Jasmin Ayala, a senior soccer player from Concordia University (Ore.), and Montana McNealy, a senior softball pitcher from Linfield College.

"Willamette University is so proud of Michaela Freeby!," Athletic Director Valerie Cleary said. "Michaela truly exemplifies the spirit of the Ad Rutschman Small-College Athlete of the Year presented by the Oregon Sports Awards. Through her academic and athletic accomplishments she has represented Willamette and her home state of Oregon on a national scale. She is a phenomenal young woman with a bright future ahead of her."

Freeby took fourth place in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to earn All-America honors in 10:41.63. She also placed fourth and was All-America in the steeplechase at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

Earlier this spring, Freeby set a personal record in the steeplechase with a time of 10:30.09. Her top time was the second fastest mark this season in Division III in the women's steeplechase, surpassed only by Lisa Cheadle of Washington University (Mo.) when she won this year's NCAA final.

In addition, Freeby was listed at #35 in Division III in the 1,500-meter run. Her top time during the season was 4:35.18.

Freeby helped the Bearcats win NWC and NCAA West Region team championships in 2014. She placed second individually at the West Regional. She took first place at the 2013 NCAA West Regional and was named West Region Female Athlete of the Year.

She has earned All-Academic honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all four years in cross country and track and field. She recently was chosen for the Jean Williams Award, which goes to Willamette's top women's senior student-athlete each year.

Freeby, who graduated this spring with a major in Biology and a minor in German, has earned First Team Capital One Academic All-District VIII honors for NCAA Division III as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). As a First Team selection, she is eligible for the Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team, which will be announced later this month.