McKinnon Takes 4th in Steeplechase - Oregon State University Athletics

Los Angeles, Calif. – Freshman Sam McKinnon broke her own school record and placed fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday to lead Oregon State in the opening day of the Pacific-12 Conference championships at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

Running the race for just the second time in college, McKinnon crossed in 10:25.78 and shattered her old school standard (10:31.81) by more than five seconds. She scored five points, OSU’s only points on the day.

Freshman teammate Nicole Goecke PRed by more than 26 seconds in the same event and placed 14^th in 10:55.77, the fifth-best time in school history. She was also running the steeplechase for just the second time as a collegian.

Freshman Ahsha Mootz ran the 6^th-fastest 400 (57.19) in school history, but did not advance to Sunday’s finals. She PRed by more than a second and finished eighth in her qualifying heat and 23^rd overall; she formerly held the 10^th-best time at 58.25.

Sophomore Morgan Anderson placed sixth in her qualifying heat and 16^th overall in the 1,500 in 4:26.31. Sophomore Holly Cavalluzzo was seventh in her heat and 26^th overall at 4:33.30. They did not advance to Sunday’s finals.

Freshman Kerissa D’Arpino placed eighth in her heat and 22^nd overall in the 100 in 12.04, and sixth in her heat and 24^th overall in the 200 in 24.80. She did not advance to Sunday’s finals in either event.

In the 800, junior Maureen Tremblay took 13^th with a PR of 2:12.94. Junior Macaulay Wilson was 20^th at 2:17.28. Neither advanced to Sunday’s finals.

In the long jump, junior Lucinda Howard placed 16^th (18-3.75); freshman Jasmin McKenzie placed 17^th (18-1.75); senior Kaitlyn Mason placed 19^th (17-9.75); junior Kara Hallock placed 20^th (17-8) and junior Michele Turney placed 21^st (17-6).

McKenzie Byrd placed 12^th in 132-0 to lead four OSU freshmen in the javelin. Hannah Troutman was 14^th (125-3) Saskia McNairy was 17^th (122-10) and Amber Peschka took 18^th (122-6).

Competing for the first time this season, Sara Almen placed 14^th in the high jump in 5-5.75. A sophomore, she placed third in the event in 2013 but redshirted in 2014.

The meet concludes on Sunday.

For more information on the OSU track teams, follow the Beavers on Facebook at Facebook.com/OSUTrackCrossCountry or on Twitter at twitter.com/@beavers_track.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

100 METER PRELIMS: 22. Kerissa D’Arpino, 12.04.

200 METER PRELIMS: 24. Kerissa D’Arpino, 24.80.

400 METER PRELIMS: 23. Ahsha Mootz, 57.19.

800 METER PRELIMS: 13. Maureen Tremblay, 2:12.94. 20. Macaulay Wilson, 2:17.28. DNF: Kelsi Schaer.

1,500 METER PRELIMS: 16. Morgan Anderson, 4:26.31. 26. Holly Cavalluzzo 4:33.30.

3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE FINALS: 4. Sam McKinnon, 10:25.78. 14. Nicole Goecke, 10:55.77.

LONG JUMP FINALS: 16. Lucinda Howard, 18-3.75. 17. Jasmin McKenzie, 18-1.75. 19. Kaitlyn Mason, 17-9.75. 20. Kara Hallock, 17-8. 21. Michele Turney, 17-6.

HIGH JUMP FINALS: 14. Sara Almen, 5-5.75.

JAVELIN FINALS: 12. McKenzie Byrd, 132-0. 14. Hannah Troutman, 125-3. 17. Saskia McNairy, 122-10. 18. Amber Peschka, 122-6.

SUNDAY (season-best in parenthesis)

5,000 METER FINALS: Holly Cavalluzzo (17:07.18); Kira Kelly (17:15.18); Sam McKinnon (NT).

4 X 400 RELAY FINALS: OSU (Kerissa D’Arpino, Ahsha Mootz, Kelsi Schaer, Macaulay Wilson, Morgan Anderson), 3:49.98.

TRIPLE JUMP FINALS: Michele Turney (38-7.75); Lucinda Howard (38-3.50).

DISCUS FINALS: Melissa Ausman (164-2).

POLE VAULT FINALS: Helen Ann Haun (12-0.50).