Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander (8) runs with New Hampshire’s Elinor Purrier on Saturday, June 10, 2017, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Ostrander won the race, while Purrier was fourth. (Photo provided by Boise State Sports Information)

Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander (8) runs with New Hampshire’s Elinor Purrier on Saturday, June 10, 2017, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Ostrander won the race, while Purrier was fourth. (Photo provided by Boise State Sports Information)

Ostrander earns Division I outdoor steeplechase title

  • By Staff Report
  • Saturday, June 10, 2017 4:39pm
  • Sports

The saga of Soldotna’s Allie Ostrander gained another glorious chapter Saturday afternoon at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Ostrander, a redshirt freshman at Boise State, claimed her first Division I outdoor track and field championship with an electric final lap in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, using a strong push to take the lead over the penultimate barrier to win with a new personal best of 9 minutes, 41.31 seconds, slashing over nine seconds off her previous best, set in Thursday’s qualifying heat.

Making the triumph even more mind-boggling was that it was only her fourth attempt at the event. Ostrander decided at the beginning of the season to mix it up and try her hand at the steeple, a race that challenges athletes to hurdle several barriers and one water pit in each of the eight laps around the track.

Then, just 82 minutes later, the 2015 Kenai Central grad was back on track racing the women’s 5,000-meter final, where she finished an impressive fourth.

According to available records, Ostrander is the first athlete from the Kenai Peninsula to win a Division I national track and field championship.

In the steeple event, Ostrander stayed among the lead pack the entire race, then took a slight edge over New Hampshire’s Elinor Purrier. The two gapped the rest of the field in the final three laps, and Purrier passed Ostrander for the lead at the start of the final lap.

Ostrander then put on a surge on the backstretch and took the lead for good on the second-to-last barrier. Ostrander rapidly grew her lead in the final 200 meters as Purrier faded to fourth place. Colorado freshman Madison Boreman finished second, 5.17 seconds behind Ostrander.

Upon crossing the finish line, Ostrander collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, then explained her emotions to a nationally televised audience.

“Yesterday I was watching the meet, and I just kept seeing people become national champions,” she said. “I was just staring at it in awe, wondering … I just can’t imagine what that feels like. And now, I can.

“There’s no words to describe it, you just have to experience it.”

The performance gave Ostrander the fastest collegiate time this year in the women’s steeple, and leaves her as the first freshman to win the event since 2006. Ostrander also became the 10th national champion in Boise State school history.

Ostrander joins 2015 Kenai Central classmate Jonah Theisen as a collegiate champion at steeplechase. Theisen won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2016 NCAA Division II outdoor championships.

Later in the day, Ostrander finished fourth in the 5,000 meters with a season best time of 15:46.18, topping her previous best this season of 16:25.76 at the West Preliminary championships two weeks ago. Ostrander’s all-time best is a 15:21.85 she ran at an indoor meet in Seattle in Jan. 2016.

Ostrander began the 5K near the back of the pack, then moved up to midfield by the third of 12 1-2 laps. With three laps to go, Ostrander moved up to fourth, while Karissa Schweizer of Missouri began to open a large gap.

Whle Schweizer sped off to victory with a time of 15:38.93, Ostrander was left to battle for second place, which she took halfway down the backstretch on the final lap.

However, the task of doing the double appeared to take its toll as Ostrander was passed by two runners with 200 meters to go and faded to fourth at the finish.

Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander (8) competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Ostrander won the race, while Colorado’s Madison Boreman was second and Penn State’s Tori Gerlach was third. (Photo provided by Boise State Information)

Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander (8) competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Ostrander won the race, while Colorado’s Madison Boreman was second and Penn State’s Tori Gerlach was third. (Photo provided by Boise State Information)

Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander shows off the first-place trophy from the 3,000-meter steeplechase and fourth-place trophy from the 5,000 meters, both earned at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo provided by Boise State Sports Information)

Boise State redshirt freshman Allie Ostrander shows off the first-place trophy from the 3,000-meter steeplechase and fourth-place trophy from the 5,000 meters, both earned at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo provided by Boise State Sports Information)

More in Sports

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

Sharon Tyone, Dan Aaronson and Jessica Small make the "real life slot machine" work at the Oilers All-Star Family Field Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers return to field for All-Star Family Field Day

It was only for a day, but the Peninsula Oilers were able… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

tease
Thursday: Twins finish strong road trip by sweeping South

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins picked up 10-0 and 18-5… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Fair weather expected for 4th of July weekend

Keep a heads-up approach when in traffic during the holiday — you don’t know who you’ll run into.

Most Read