322 athletes representing 24 colleges are on their way to ±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï for the 2011 NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Pioneers enter the national championships ranked #4 in the NJCAA poll and will look to make their mark as they entertain some of the top talent in two-year athletics.
Four Pioneers will head into the nationals with the best time recorded this season in their competition. Brett Harrington (Rochester/Edison) is ranked 1st in the 110 m hurdles (14.73), Marcquis Johnson-Broughton (Rochester/Edison) is 1st in the 400 m hurdles (55.81), David Miller (Elmira Southside) is 1st in the pole vault (4.60 m), and Tara Murphy (Rochester/Wilson) is top in the 800 m (2:18.37). The women's 4 x 400 relay team also is ranked #1 heading into the championships.
Murphy is also ranked #2 in the 400 m (58.94), Rawle Crawford (Mt. Vernon) is #2 in the 200 (22.12), Briana Dorsey (Rochester/School of the Arts) is #2 in the 100 m (12.60), Jordan Traina (Gates Chili) is #2 in the pole vault (4.20 m), and Megan Votava (Alfred Almond) is #2 in the 100 m hurdles (16.74).
The Lady Pioneers are coming off winning the Region III Championship for the first time since 2007 last weekend. The men's team finished 3rd.
±¬×ß³Ô¹Ï last hosted the outdoor track & field championships in 2009 and will host the national championships again in 2012.
Action begins on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. when the decathlon and the heptathalon begin. Field events begin at 1 p.m. and running events at 2:15 p.m. Events continue on Friday at 9 a.m. and then again at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For a complete list of events visit: http://www.alfredstate.edu/athletics/national-championship-schedule-of-events