EMPORIA, Kan. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program had a strong start at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships Thursday at Welch Stadium/Witten Track on the campus of Emporia State University.
 
Three Vikings were in action during the first of the three-day competition, with juniors Jeret Gillingham and Ila Davis, and sophomore Ashley Reeck competing in the prelims of the 3,000m Steeplechase.
 
Gillingham (Sandy, OR) entered the competition ranked No. 5 in the event and placed second in the opening heat to earn automatic qualification into Friday's 12-runner final. The three-time GNAC steeplechase champion ran 9:02.74 in the prelims for the 3rd-best qualifying time out of the 19 runners. Gillingham set the WWU and GNAC record at the conference championships two weeks ago with a blistering time of 8:45.40. This is Gillingham's second trip to outdoor nationals placing 14th last year in Pueblo, Colorado.
 
Davis (Spokane, WA) is making her third consecutive trip to nationals in the steeplechase and will race in the finals for the second year in a row. The junior placed 2nd in the second of two heats with a time of 10:39.94 to earn automatic qualification. Entering the meet with a school-record time of 10:11.97 set at the Stanford Invitational in March, Davis will race for a podium spot Friday after finishing 11th last season to earn Second Team All-America honors.
 
Sophomore Ashley Reeck (Lake Stevens, WA) made her outdoor nationals debut after earning All-America honors during the cross country season, placing 17th in the prelims of the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:16.39. Reeck recorded a personal-best time of 10:34.38 at the Stanford Invitational to rank 4th in WWU history.
 
WWU continues action at nationals Friday in Emporia, with the following schedule:
 
Friday, May 24:

• Men's 800m Prelims – Drew Weber – 6:00 pm CT/4:00 pm PT
• Women's 800m Prelims – Marian Ledesma – 6:15 pm CT/4:15 pm PT
• Men's 3,000m Steeplechase Final – Jeret Gillingham – 7:15 pm CT/5:15 pm PT
• Women's 3,000m Steeplechase Final – Ila Davis – 7:30 pm CT/5:30 pm PT

 
The three-day meet is being hosted by Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. The NCAA will provide a live webcast and updated live results via NCAA.com.