Allie Ostrander Turns Pro with One Year of Eligibility Remaining

By Adam Kopet

Rachel Roberts of the Idaho Statesman reports Allie Ostrander has turned pro. The redshirt junior will skip her final year of eligibility and has hired Ray Flynn as her agent.

The Washington-based Brooks Beasts Track Club announced Wednesday that Ostrander, along with 2017 NCAA Division 1 indoor mile champion Karisa Nelson of Samford, will join the group. Nelson also placed runner-up in the indoor mile this year.

Ostrander is a three-time NCAA Division 1 Outdoor champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. In those years, she has also competed in the 5,000 meters, earning All-America first-team honors twice. She has also been a regular scorer at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships and has placed in the top six at the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships three times, including a runner-up finish her freshman year in 2015.

Ostrander, who graduated from Boise State in May, owns personal bests of 4:14.76 for 1,500 meters, 15:16.38 for 5,000 meters, 32:06.71 for 10,000 meters and 9:31.44 for the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The latter she ran Sunday in the 45th Prefontaine Classic, where she placed 13th. It was the last time she will represent Boise State in competition.

Ostrander has shown strong ability over a multitude of events. In addition to her prowess on the track and cross country course, she has also had success in mountain running in her native Alaska. What she will eventually choose as her primary event is currently unknown, but she plans to focus on the steeplechase this year.

With the U.S. getting four athletes in the women's steeplechase at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, due to Emma Coburn capturing the world title in 2017, Ostrander does stand a chance of making the team in the steeplechase. She currently stands fifth on the U.S. list this year, but Sunday she finished ahead of Mel Lawrence, who stands above her on the season's bests list.