Bressler, Freeby, Mancl and Ostrander are Recognized by USTFCCCA 

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Four members of the Willamette University women's track and field team have been chosen for the 2014-15 NCAA Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team as selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Student-athletes earned the award through academic and athletic success.

Each All-Academic athlete owned a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher (4.0 scale), while either competing at the NCAA Division III Championships or by finishing the regular season ranked in the top 35 nationally in an individual event or in the top 25 in a relay event.

The USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for women's track and field includes 420 athletes from 127 NCAA Division III institutions.

Willamette's All-Academic selections were Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS), Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), Olivia Mancl (So./Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) and Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS). All four of Willamette's selections competed at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Hannah Bressler (Jr.) earned USTFCCCA All-Academic status for the second year in a row. This spring, she qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and placed 21st at the national meet. Her top time of the season was a career-best 10:59.31 at the Willamette vs. Corban Dual on March 19.

Bressler's best time ranks fifth on Willamette's all-time list in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She took fourth place at this year's NWC Championships in the steeplechase, as she contributed to a 1-2-4-6 finish by the Bearcats. She placed second in the steeplechase in 2014 and was fourth in 2013.

At Willamette, Bressler is majoring in Exercise Science. She has attained a 3.38 cumulative grade point average.

Michaela Freeby (Sr.) was named All-Academic in track and field for the third season in a row. She led NCAA Division III during the regular season in the steeplechase with a time of 10:30.09, set at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. She finished in fourth place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships.

She also placed fourth in the nation in the steeplechase in 2013. She achieved All-America status both years.

In addition, Freeby took 13th at the NCAA Championships in the steeplechase as a freshman in 2012. She recorded 17th place in 2014 despite recovering from an injury.

Freeby won Northwest Conference steeplechase titles in 2012, 2013 and 2015. She took first place in the NWC in the 1,500-meter run in 2014. She ranks second all-time at Willamette in the steeplechase. She is fourth in the 5,000-meter run, eighth in the 1,500-meter run and 10th in the 800-meter run.

This spring, Freeby graduated from Willamette with a major in Biology. She earned a 3.44 cumulative GPA.

Freeby recently was named First Team Capital One Academic All-District VIII by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Olivia Mancl (So./Fr.) reached the NCAA Championships in the 1,500-meter run. Her top time was 4:32.13 at the Gregory Invitational in Naperville, Illinois, on May 15. At the NCAA Championships, she took ninth place with a time of 4:32.26 in the final race.

Earlier this year, Mancl won the NWC title in the 1,500, leading a 1-2-6-8 finish for the Bearcats. She was third in the 800-meter run, as she recorded All-NWC status in two events.

Mancl's top time in the 1,500 places her fourth on Willamette's all-time list. She is ninth all-time at WU in the 800-meter run.

As a student, Mancl is majoring in Biology. She ended the current year with a 3.73 cumulative GPA.

Taylor Ostrander (Jr.) placed 13th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships this year. She attained a top time during the season of 10:52.24 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.

Her career-best time of 10:40.86 was at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, during the Oregon Twilight on May 9, 2014. She is listed third all-time at Willamette in the steeplechase. She is fifth on the all-time list in the 5,000-meter run and is seventh in the 10,000-meter run.

As a student at Willamette, Ostrander has earned a 3.80 cumulative GPA. She is majoring in Exercise Science.

Ostrander was chosen as a First Team Capital One Academic All-District VIII selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for 2014-15.