COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Gretchen Hoekstre punched her ticket to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with an eighth-place finish in the shot put Thursday evening at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
The senior from Seaside, Oregon, secured her first-ever NCAA championships qualification in the shot put with a mark of 16.87m/55-4.25 on her third and final attempt. A 2024 NCAA qualifier in the discus, she’ll return to that event Saturday at 12 p.m. MT.
"Coming into today, I knew qualifying was well within my capabilities," said Hoekstre. "However, this was the hottest and most humid meet I’ve ever competed in, and with my injury, I knew I’d have to compete. I was able to prove to myself my ability to show up when great throws are needed. I’m excited to throw back home and hopefully add another All-American accolade to my record."
Sami Oblad ran the second-fastest 400m of her career, clocking 50.96 to win her heat and place fifth overall in the opening round. Her performance earned her an automatic berth to Saturday’s quarterfinal.
Four Cougar women advanced to the 1500m quarterfinals. Riley Chamberlain (4:14.06) and Carlee Hansen (4:16.31) claimed automatic qualifying spots by finishing second and third in their heat. Lexi Goff ran a lifetime best of 4:17.68 to qualify on time, while Taylor Rohatinsky will join her in Saturday’s quarterfinal with a 4:20.32 first round performance.
In the 800m, freshman Tessa Buswell was the fastest time qualifier in the field, clocking 2:03.97. Meghan Hunter advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal automatically after winning her heat in 2:05.65.
Senior pole vaulter Maren Garnett tied Rebekah Erikson’s BYU school record with a clearance of 4.32m/14-2 to finish 19th overall. Erikson cleared 4.17m/13-8.25 to place 20th.
Senior Destiny Everett finished 17th in the 10,000m with a time of 34:45.73 as sophomore Vanessa Alder placed 37th in 36:05.13.
Alysa Keller placed 33rd in the javelin with a third-attempt throw of 44.80m/147-0.
Up Next
The BYU women return to E.B. Cushing Stadium on Saturday, May 31, for the final day of the 2025 NCAA West Preliminary Round.