ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The George Fox track and field program had nine of their 13 individuals compete on day one of the 2023 NCAA National Meet, ending the first day with two national champions.

Christine Strickland won the women's javelin with a mark of 45.57m on her second throw, capping off a storied career standing at the top of the podium. Strickland ends her career with a national championship, national runner-up, as a three-time All-American, and holds the sixth-best throw in the javelin for the Bruins. 

Ethan Kassebaum struck gold on his third jump after fouling his first two jumps in the men's long jump. That third jump was over a foot better than his previous personal best and beat out the reigning champion by three inches. Kassebaum rocketed to a Division III season-best, facility record, and George Fox's record jump of 25-05.50 to claim the championship crown. 

In her second appearance at the NCAA Division III National Championships, Junior Ellie Corwin finished ninth with a throw of 40.89m, beating her 2022 performance by over three meters as she earned her first career national top-10.

Fox had two individuals competing in the combined events, and both ended day one of competition in the top 10. In the men's decathlon, Tayler Phillips started the morning with a personal record in the 100m with a time of 11.06. Phillips continued to set high marks with a second-place finish in the shot put, 12.31m, and a fourth place in the high jump, 1.90m. To round out day one, Phillips ran a time of 50.93 in the 400m, which moved him up to second place going into day two. 

In the women's heptathlon, Brecken VandenHoek sits in seventh place after four events. VandenHoek recorded a personal record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.76 and tied her personal best in the high jump with a final height of 1.61m, good for third place. 

The Bruins had two additional individuals competing in the men's long jump. Andrew Quach finished in 13th with a jump of 7.03m, and Cameron Seymour jumped 6.98m, good for 15th. 

Sophomore Gabe Johnson competed in the men's javelin, placing 22nd with a throw of 50.57m.

The final Bruin to compete on Thursday was Gavin Grass in the men's 3000m steeplechase preliminary round, finishing in 16th with a time of 9:07.34. 

Up Next Friday, May 26
7:00 am - 4:15 pm | Tayler Phillips - Decathlon (110m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500m) 
8:30 am - 11:45 pm | Brecken VandenHoek - Heptathlon (Long Jump, Javelin, 800m)
3:00 pm | Alison Young - Pole Vault 
3:45 pm | Ellie Rising - 800m Prelims
*All times PST