Ostrander Tackles a First at NCAA

Boise State freshman distance runner Allie Ostrander is facing the unknown. Tackling something she has never tried, a first for her at any time during her running career and she'll do so on an NCAA stage in the running capital of the country, Eugene, Oregon.

Saturday June 10th Ostrander will run in the 3,000 meter Steeplechase Final at the NCAA track meet and then just 90 minutes later, will compete in the 5,000 meter final.

It wasn't planned that way but yesterday Ostrander finished third in her steeplechase heat qualifying for the finals. It was only her third steeplechase ever while the 5,000 meter run is her strength.

Allie has never run the two races back to back so this will be a first and she has no idea what to expect.

Ostrander has been nursing a leg injury and was out of running for three months and decided to use steeplechase as a way to get back into the swing of things and it turns out she's pretty good at it.

Ostrander, whose early college career has been interrupted by injuries, made her steeplechase debut March 31 at the Stanford Invitational. All she did was win in 9:55.61, which entering Thursday was the fourth-fastest time this season in Division I. She clocked 10:00.02 in winning the NCAA West Preliminary Round late last month.