With a solid time of 10:05.07, just two seconds slower than the school-record time she posted to qualify for this event, Katie Hansen (Portland, Ore.) advanced to the finals in the 3000 meter run Thursday night at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held at Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC).
Hansen and the rest of Thursday’s running competitors were delayed three hours before taking the track for their events. Running in the second of two heats, Hansen finished fifth in her section, 4.47 seconds behind Tanya Gaurmer of Adams State, who won the heat in 10:00.60. Of the 16 competitors, Hansen’s time was the 11th fastest, enabling her to move on to Friday’s finals.
Hansen was one of four West Region competitors to earn a spot in the finals of the 3000 meter run, joining Jane Larson of Seattle Pacific (9:59.07), Sarah Montez of Chico State (10:00.80), and Elizabeth Chepkosgei of Alaska Anchorage (10:03.19). Hansen becomes the second Seattle University runner to advance to the finals in the NCAA Championships, joining Kelly Fullerton who advanced to the finals in the 3000 meter steeplechase three straight years.
Hansen will compete in the finals of the 3000 meter run Friday night, May 23, at approximately 5:25 p.m. She will need to finish in the top eight of 12 to join Fullerton as a Division II All-American representing Seattle University. Hansen will also be the final Seattle University competitor at the Division II level, as the school begins the reclassification process to Division I over the summer.
Preliminaries
1 Jane Larson So Seattle Pacific 9:59.07Q
2 Tanya Gaurmer Sr Adams State 10:00.60Q
3 Sarah Montez Sr Cal St Chico 10:00.80Q
4 Esther Komen So Harding 10:02.09Q
5 Anna VanWechel Fr Minn St-Moorhead 10:01.03Q
6 Elizabeth Chepkosgei JR Alaska Anchorage 10:03.19Q
7 Katie Hickey Jr Bellarmine 10:01.38Q
8 Naomi Fulton Sr Wisconsin-Parkside 10:03.51Q
9 Melanie Peddle Jr Colorado/Mines 10:02.24q
10 Kylen Cieslak So Northwood 10:03.01q
11 Katie Hansen Jr Seattle 10:05.07q
12 Molly Clark So Augustana 10:07.53q
13 Stephanie Williams Sr Kutztown 10:11.65
14 Amy Kolin Fr Grand Valley State 10:11.96
15 Courtney Waltbillig So Missouri Southern 10:24.42
16 Melissa Nash Jr Bentley 10:29.25