Oregon State claimed its first-ever Pac-12 women’s track and field individual championship Saturday night when Grace Fetherstonhaugh won the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Fetherstonhaugh, a senior from New Westminster, B.C., won the steeplechase in 9 minutes, 39.23 seconds, beating OSU teammate Kaylee Mitchell by nearly six seconds. Last year’s runner-up finish Mitchell in the 3,000 steeplechase was the previous best finish by a Beaver at the Pac-12 meet.
This year’s meet is being held at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. OSU has competed at Pac-10/12 meets since 1987.
Fetherstonhaugh and Mitchell, a senior from Salem, took control of the steeplechase with about 800 meters remaining. Fetherstonhaugh began to inch away from Mitchell during the final lap to win comfortably.
Fetherstonhaugh had finished fourth and fifth in previous Pac-12 meets.
Oregon State’s last conference title in women’s track and field came in 1984, when Meredith Howell won heptathlon and Carina Westover took high jump at the NorPac meet.
Fetherstonhaugh goes after a second Pac-12 title Sunday when she races in the 5,000 final.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
