Corvallis, Ore. - Junior Laura Carlyle (Kelowna, British Columbia), redshirt senior Hayley Oveson (La Grande, Ore.) and senior Jennifer Macias (Hermiston, Ore.) will compete on Saturday, May 28 at 3:05 p.m. in the 5,000 meters at the 2011 NCAA West Outdoor Track and Field Regional at Hayward Field.
"I'm very excited about the 5,000 meter race coming up this weekend for the three women we have competing," head coach Kelly Sullivan said. "No question all three have had a great spring season with each running significant personal bests nearly every time out. And there is no reason not to believe that will continue this weekend. Timing is always key, and these three have put a lot of solid work, time and effort into their training and personal lives all year. So it should be fun to watch because anything can happen this time of the year!"
Carlyle, who also would have qualified in the 800 and 1,500 meters, enters Saturday's competition as the 24th overall seed with a season-best time of 16:19.00 that she posted at the Stanford Invitational on March 25. The time is also a school record setting mark. She competed in the NCAA West Regional last season in the 1,500 meters.
Oveson also earned her qualifying time at the Stanford Invitational, finishing in 16:34.01 - good for second best in school history. She enters the event seeded 34th overall. Her qualification marks the first in her career. She redshirted the outdoor slate last season.
And qualifying later, Macias posted a time of 16:47.91 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 16. This is the first regional qualification in her career.
The three will face 45 other competitors with Oregon's Jordan Hasay holding the top qualifying time of 15:37.29. And the top five from each of the two heats, as well as the two fastest times outside of those 10, will qualify for the national meet at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa on June 8-11. Oveson will run in the first heat, while Macias and Carlyle will take on the second heat.
Tickets are on sale now through the University of Oregon Athletics Ticket Office by visiting goducks.com or by calling 1-800-WEBFOOT.
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