Beaver Trio Qualifies for National Championships

Thursday, May 25

Sacremento, CA

All Day

Oregon State

NCAA West Prelims

Photo by: Kane Nguyen/OSU Athletics

May 27, 2023 | Women's Track & Field

By: Athletic Communications

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Oregon State went three-for-three on Saturday with Jade Whitfield, Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh qualifying for the NCAA National Championships.

Three qualifiers for the national championships is the most since the rebirth of the track and field program in September of 2004.

"Today was a great day," Oregon State head coach Louie Quintana said. "All three athletes were so methodical in their approach and competed with such poise and confidence. Jade started us off with a great first throw that sealed her spot to her first NCAA final. That set the tone and both Grace and Kaylee looked dominant in their wins. It's great to have three on to Austin and every athlete here had a tremendous meet."

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.

UP NEXT
Fetherstonhaugh, Mitchell and Whitfield head to Austin for the NCAA Championships from June 7-10.

BEAVER SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)

Thursday, May 25
Hammer Finals (10 a.m.)
38. Markayla Billings - 55.45m/181-11

Javelin Finals (1:30 p.m.)
16. Ella Knott - 50.16m/164-7
42. Maryann Ackerman - 42.59m/139-8

Long Jump Finals (6:00 p.m.)
24. Anneke Moersdorf - 6.03m/19-9.5
34. Delaney Bahn - 5.91m/19-4.75

400 Meter Hurdle Prelims (8:20 p.m.)
25. Adael Scatena - 59.40

10,000 Meter Final (9:10 p.m.)
17. Christina Geisler - 33:19.34 – School Record

Saturday, May 27
Discus Finals (1:00 p.m.)
3. Jade Whitfield – 56.92m/186-9 (Q)

3,000 Meter Steeplechase Final (5:40 p.m.)
2. Grace Fetherstonhaugh – 9:38.93 (Q)
3. Kaylee Mitchell – 9:40.41 (Q)