Ostrander 4th, Updike 8th in steeplechase at USA Championships
Allie Ostrander
Kenai’s Allie Ostrander didn’t disappoint in her much-anticipated professional debut at the USA Track and Field Championships in De Moines, Iowa.
The 22-year-old former Boise State University runner finished fourth out of 14 in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Ostrander, of Kenai High fame, turned pro this summer after winning her third NCAA national championship in the steeplechase.
Her debut was dynamite as her finals time of 9:38.52 earned her a place on Team USA for the world championships in September.
Isaac Updike
Ostrander wasn’t the only former college national champion from Alaska to grab a top-10 effort.
Ketchikan’s Issac Updike, 27, ran a PR in qualifying and finished eighth out of 14 in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase.
The former Eastern Oregon University star and NAIA national champion in the steeplechase posted a time of 8:35.92 to place fifth in his heat and qualify for the finals, where he ran 8:43.47.