Oregon State Opens National Championships on Thursday

AUSTIN, Texas – Oregon State will have three opportunities to secure the school's first individual national championship since 1975 this Thursday and Saturday. 
 
Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh open the weekend in the 3,000-meter steeplechase prelims on Thursday at 6:02 p.m. PT. The top five finishers in each heat, as well as the next two best times advance to Saturday's finals at 6:24 p.m. PT. 
 
Jade Whitfield is in the second of two discus heats with an estimated start time of 6:30 p.m. PT. 
 
If any of the three earns a national title, it would be OSU's first in the NCAA and first women's track and field title since Robin Blaine, Kathy Costello, Kristin Trom and Kathy Weston brought home the AIAW National Championship in the two-mile relay in 1979. Joni Huntley is Oregon State's last individual national champion with high jump and long jump victories in 1975. 
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN2
Results: Live Results
Social Media: @BeaverTFXC
 
MARKS TO WATCH
Steeplechase
9:34.59 - Oregon State School Record (Kaylee Mitchell, 2022)
9:27.66 – Mike A. Myers Stadium Facility Record (Kathryn Gillespie – Texas, 2021)
9:16.00 – Meet and Collegiate Record (Courtney Wayment – BYU, 2022)
 
Discus
58.36m/191-6 – Oregon State School Record (Jade Whitfield, 2023)
68.20m/223-9 - Mike A. Myers Stadium Facility Record (Valarie Allman – Asics, 2023)
65.01m /213-3 – Meet Record (Jorinde van Klinken – ASU, 2021)
70.22m /230-4 – Collegiate Record (Jorinde van Klinken – ASU, 2021)
   
LAST TIME OUT
All three Beavers competing at nationals secured their spot on the second day of the NCAA West Prelims. 
 
Whitfield sealed her spot in Austin on her first throw of the day. The redshirt sophomore launched a 56.92m/186-9 toss to move into second place, virtually guaranteeing her entrance to the national championships. Whitfield finished third in the west region.
 
Mitchell was the next Beav to qualify, pulling away from her heat over the final 1,200 meters to earn a big Q. She finished in 9:40.41, around six seconds away from her school record. Mitchell earned herself plenty of breathing room with eight seconds between her and the fourth-place finisher in the heat.
 
Fetherstonhaugh solidified a perfect day for the Beavs with a 9:38.93 for the win in the day's second heat. Just over a second off her PR – the second-best time in school history – the redshirt senior cruised to a near seven-second victory in the heat. Like Mitchell, Fetherstonhaugh pulled away over the second half of the race with the fastest lap from laps 4-7.
 
 
BEAVER SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)
 
Thursday, June 8
3,000 Meter Steeplechase Final (6:02 p.m.)
Grace Fetherstonhaugh 
Kaylee Mitchell
 
Saturday, June 10
3,000 Meter Steeplechase Final (6:24 p.m.)
Grace Fetherstonhaugh 
Kaylee Mitchell
 
Discus Finals (est. start time: 6:30 p.m.)
Jade Whitfield