Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central now a pro runner living in Boulder, Colorado, withdrew from the final of the 3,000-meter steeplechase Saturday, Aug. 2, at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Competing in an outdoor national championship for the sixth time, the withdrawal meant Ostrander, 28, would not make a World Championships team for the second time.
In the Thursday prelims, the top five of each heat made the finals, plus the next four best times. Ostrander finished in 9 minutes, 40.71 seconds, to take seventh in her heat, but she was the last qualifier based on time.
In a video that had 37,000 views on YouTube as of Tuesday night, Ostrander said she did not feel like herself in the prelim.
That was one of a number of factors that led her to withdraw before Saturday’s race, an event in which she won three straight NCAA Division I titles and competed at worlds in 2019.
Lexy Halladay-Lowry won Saturday at 9:09.14, while Kaylee Mitchell was the third qualifier to worlds at 9:11.36.
“It’s been a disappointing year,” Ostrander said on the video. “I just feel like ever since I got injured, I’ve been trying to scrape together the plan I had for this year for myself, and at this point, I just have nothing left to scrape.
“I can’t race today, because when I think about it, all I feel is empty. In order to race, it’s such a mental, emotional experience and I am so drained mentally and emotionally that I can’t fathom racing.”
In addition to injury that messed up her training and racing plans this season, Ostrander was sick a few weeks before nationals. After not feeling like herself in the prelims, she also had an Achilles’ tendon flare up.
“The main factor is just that I don’t think it will be good for me mentally, emotionally or physically to do this,” she said.
She said the decision was a tough one, but made after talking to all in her support system.
“I wish that I could do this race and finish it out, but I know that I need to just come up with a new plan, and hopefully I’ll be racing again soon,” she said. “I just need to reset, and I need to be able to go into my races feeling prepared and excited for them, so that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Ostrander also did not make Team USA for the World Mountain Running Championships this season. She did set the Alaska record for the half marathon by finishing the Mesa Half Marathon in 1:11:10 in February in Arizona.
Last season, Ostrander had a number of achievements. She placed 30th at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in late March 2024 in Serbia.
In late June 2024, she ran her PR of 9:21.82 in the steeplechase and finished seventh at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
In October 2024, she finished 15th in the overall standings of the Golden Trail World Series.
“While I had hoped this year would be way more full of highs, I know that this is such a normal trajectory to have ups and downs,” she said. “You know, as much as it sucks, I know that so many people will relate to it.
“So that does give me a little solace, knowing that other people won’t feel alone when they’re having moments like this, too.”
