With a school-record time of 10:03.09 in the 3000 meter run posted at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 2, Katie Hansen (Portland, Ore.) has officially qualified for the 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, to be held May 22-24 in Walnut, Calif.
Hansen first posted a provisional qualifying time of 10:11.83 at the Western Washington Twilight Meet in Bellingham, Wash., on April 25. One week later in , under ideal conditions at Tomlinson Stadium, Hansen was able to knock almost nine seconds off her previous time, ending up with the eighth-fastest time in the country to become one of the 16 competitors to qualify for the national meet.
“Katie’s determination and consistency in her training this year has afforded her the exciting opportunity of competing at the Division II National Championships,” head coach Trisha Steidl said. “Additionally, the support and continually increasing strength of our team as a whole has helped Katie get to this point. It truly is a team sport in that aspect.”
With her achievement, Hansen becomes only the second Seattle University track and field athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division II outdoor championships. Kelly Fullerton competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase three consecutive years, finishing ninth in 2003, fourth in 2004, and sixth in 2005. Hansen will also have the distinction of being the final Seattle University student-athlete to compete in an NCAA Division II championship, as the university begins the transition to Division I next year.
The 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships are being hosted by Cal Poly Pomona but held in Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC). Hansen will compete in the preliminaries of the 3000 meter run on Thursday, May 22, at 6:50 p.m., with the finals taking place Friday, May 23, at 5:25 p.m.