Opportunity Awaits at Pac-12 Championships

Photo by: Mark Hoffman

May 11, 2023 | Women's Track & Field

By: Athletic Communications

WALNUT, Calif. – Oregon State will look to continue its outstanding growth as a program this weekend when the Beavs compete at the Pac-12 Championships, hosted by Mt. SAC.

The Beavers will look to cement themselves as the west coast program on the rise by outpacing last season's 10th-place finish with 32 points. Both were the best in school history with the point total leading by a wide margin. The top-eight finishers in each event score with point totals awarded in order of finish (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).

The meet begins with day one of the heptathlon starting at 1:30 p.m. The championships will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks. More info on how to watch each event can be found here and live results will be available here.

LAST TIME OUT
Keely McLaughlin continued her run of strong form in the shot put, breaking her own school record for the second time six days to take the first place spot at the Oregon Twilight with 15.41m/50-6.75. Taylor Crockem followed in second, throwing 14.91m/48-11.

Putting up another win was Kaylee Mitchell in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:14.76, impressively separating herself from a group that included an Olympic silver medalist and two of the top 15 runners in the NCAA in the final lap. Also with wins were Jada Hurley in the 100 meters, Anneke Moersdorf in the 100-meter hurdles, and Delaney Bahn in long jump.

READY FOR REGIONALS
Oregon State has several potential regional qualifiers heading into one of their final two chances to make the regional meet. The top 48 individuals and 24 relays make the meet with the best 12 from the regional advancing to the NCAA Championships.

Grace Fetherstonhaugh and Kaylee Mitchell are each triple-qualified in the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000 meter steeplechase. Fetherstonhaugh owns top-five marks in each. Jade Whitfield also owns a top-five mark with the no. 4 spot in the discus while fellow thrower Ella Knott ranks 21st in the javelin.

Adael Scatena, Christina Geisler and Anneke Moersdorf all own marks that would qualify for a regional if the season ended today. Scatena's 59.57 in the 400-meter hurdles is 43rd in the region. Moersdorf's 6.11m long jump is also 43rd, Christina Geisler's 33:41.93 performance in the 10,000 meters ranks 44th and Markayla Billings owns the region's 45th-best hammer throw.

Among those looking to move into qualifying position this weekend are Emma Nelson (currently 59th in the high jump), Delaney Bahn (52nd – long jump), Taylor Weidinger (63rd – 400 meter hurdles) and Maryann Ackerman (65th – javelin). The senior shot put duo of Taylor Crockem (61st) and Keely McLaughlin (52nd) also can put themselves in qualifying position with a strong performance either this week or next.

UP NEXT
Qualifying Beavers will compete in Sacramento, Calif. at the NCAA West Regionals May 25-27 with their eyes set on the NCAA Championships afterwards in June.

BEAVER SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)

Friday, May 12

Heptathlon Day 1
Anneke Moersdorf
100 Meter Hurdles (1:30 p.m.)
High Jump (2:20 p.m.)
Shot Put (5:10 p.m.)
200 Meters (6:30 p.m.)

Track
1,500 Meter Prelims (6:15 p.m.)
Kaylee Mitchell

200 Meter Prelims (6:55 p.m.)
Jada Hurley

400 Meter Hurdle Prelims (7:40 p.m.)
Adael Scatena
Taylor Weidinger

10,000 Meters (8:35 p.m.)
Christina Geisler

Field
Javelin (6:30 p.m.)
Maryann Ackerman
Ella Knott
Jazlyn Romero

Saturday, May 13

Heptathlon Day 2
Anneke Moersdorf
Long Jump (1:30 p.m.)
Javelin (3:00 p.m.)
800 Meters (5:50 p.m.)

Track
100 Meter Hurdles Prelims (4:20 p.m.)
Adael Scatena

100 Meters Prelims (5:25 p.m.)
Jada Hurley

800 Meters Prelims (6:10 p.m.)
Jillian Brown

3,000 Meter Steeplechase Final (6:50 p.m.)
Grace Fetherstonhaugh
Kaylee Mitchell

Field
Hammer (12:30 p.m.)
Markayla Billings
Keely McLaughlin

Shot Put (5:00 p.m.)
Taylor Crockem
Keely McLaughlin

Long Jump (5:30 p.m.)
Anneke Moersdorf
Delaney Bahn
Chelsea Howard

Sunday, May 14

Track
4x100 Meter Relay (1:10 p.m.)
Chelsea Howard, Jada Hurley, Taylor Weidinger, Delaney Bahn

1,500 Meters Final (1:30 p.m.)
100 Meters Hurdle Final (1:50 p.m.)
100 Meters Final (2:25 p.m.)
800 Meters Final (2:40 p.m.)
400 Meter Hurdles Final (3:00 p.m.)
200 Meters Final (3:20 p.m.)

5,000 Meters Final (3:50 p.m.)
Kaylee Mitchell
Grace Fetherstonhaugh
Liv Downing
Christina Geisler
Kate Laurent
Eimy Martinez
Gabby Peterson
Zoe Simmons

4x400 Meter Relay Final (4:25 p.m.)
Adael Scatena, Paige Sefried, Jada Hurley, Taylor Weidinger

Field
High Jump (1:45 p.m.)
Delaney Bahn
Emma Nelson
Grace Proudfoot
Savannah Reilly

Discus (1:45 p.m.)
Jade Whitfield
Caitlyn Marx
Keely McLaughlin

Triple Jump (2:00 p.m.)
Anneke Moersdorf