NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships Central
PUEBLO, Colo. – The Angelo State track & field teams will begin competition tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colo.
The competition begins with the men's decathlon at 10 a.m. and the women's heptathlon at 11 a.m. The Rams are ranked No. 12 by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association while the Rambelles sit at No. 19.
Senior Cathryn Rittenberry starts it off for the Rambelles with the women's heptathlon. The Rams have Isidro Garcia and Dallas Gray start the day with the preliminaries of the men's 400-meters.
A few veterans will be after a repeat All-American performance. Jacob McDonald and Austin Slone both earned All-American honors in individual events last year while Garcia and Robbie Thayer were a part of the 4x400-meter relay that was All-American last season.
McDonald is entered in both the javelin and pole vault and Slone will be after his second All-American honor in the triple jump. Garcia will run in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay while Thayer is after his second-straight 4x400-meter relay All-American honor.
Dallas Gray (400-meter, 4x400-meter), Keaton Hatch (discus), Patrick Hunter (long jump, triple jump), Jeffrey Jones (400-meter hurdles, 4x400-meter) and Sean Reagan (discus) are making their debut at the national championships.
The Rambelles have Kelsey Coffman (pole vault), Jayda Spencer (discus) and Kimberly Williams (javelin) returning to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Spencer and Williams both made the 2010 national championships but missed out last year. It is Coffman's second-straight year at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. The trio is joined by a very talented group of first-time competitors.
Theresa Sue has the highest rank coming into the national championships of the Rambelles. Sue is currently No. 3 in the women's long jump with a mark of 20'-4.50” (6.21m). She is also a member of the women's 4x400-meter relay.
Summer Sutherland joins teammate Coffman in the pole vault after returning from a knee injury a season ago.
Freshmen Jaylen Rodgers will be run the 800-meters on Friday and then run with teammates Lexi Brooks, Keshawna Fisher and Sue on the 4x400-meter relay later that evening.
Live results of the meet can be found by going to www.gothunderwolves.com.
