By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
PUEBLO, Colo. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program had a solid first day at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.
WWU had two four student-athletes see action during preliminary races on day one of the three-day championship meet, with two advancing to the finals and one earning Second Team All-America honors.
Sophomore
Maurice Woodring gave another sterling performance in the 400m hurdles, advancing to Saturday's final by recording the 7th-fastest qualifying time in the 22-runner field with a personal-best mark of 50.95. Woodring will looks to complete his quest for All-America honors on Saturday, bettering his previous WWU and GNAC record of 51.42. All nine qualifying spots were faster than Woodring's previous PR.
Senior
Ila Davis grabbed the final qualifying spot in the 3000m Steeplechase placing 6th in the first heat and 12th overall with a time of 10:58.79. Making her fourth trip to outdoor nationals in the steeplechase, Davis will aim to reach the podium for the second consecutive season in Friday's final after placing 8th last season and 11th in 2023. The senior has a quick turnaround racing again 24 hours after the prelim at 7:15 pm MT Friday (6:15 pm PT).
Junior
Bec Bennett claimed Second Team All-America honors and just missed out on spot in the final with her 10th-place finish in the 400m. Racing in her first outdoor nationals, Bennett clocked 53.45 to place 4th in the second heat. The top nine spots advanced to Saturday's final, with her time missing the cut by 13/100th of a second. Bennett entered the meet seeded 10th with her WWU and GNAC record time of 53.11 set at the conference championships.
Senior
Kevin McDermott made his outdoor nationals debut in the 1500m placing 18th during the prelim race finishing in a time of 3:57.09. McDermott, who entered the national championships seeded 18th with a season-best time of 3:44.37, was in the mix through the first three laps, but fell off to place 9th in the first of two heats. The 11-time GNAC champion will get another chance at the podium Saturday racing in the 5000m at 8:30 pm MT/7:30 pm PT.
Competition continues Friday with senior
Katie Potts in the discus and
Ila Davis in the 3000m Steeplechase final. The event features daily live coverage via webcast at
NCAA.com and live results via
Leone Timing. Here is a look at WWU's remaining schedule of events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships by athlete and event, with times listed both pacific (in Bellingham) and mountain (competition time in Colorado):
