RICHARDSON, Texas –– The 2011 American Southwest Conference Track and Field Championships are set for Friday and Saturday (April 29-30) on the campus of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

The field of teams includes Concordia Texas (men and women), Hardin-Simmons (men and women), McMurry (men and women), Mississippi College (men and women), Sul Ross State (men and women), UT Tyler (men and women) and Texas Lutheran (women).

The UT Tyler men will be looking to win the meet after finishing second last season. The men's team will be led by Ross Renfroe, Nick Huff, Josh Chatman, Ed Palencia, and Chris Stonestreet.  In addition, the men's 4X100 combo of Christian Kearney, Monta Jeffley, Dedrick Weathersby and Shane Burk will be looking to qualify for the NCAA championships.

On the men's side, the Patriots expect strong performances from Leah Solomon, Taylin Eckols, Kealey Gaffney and Jessica Wanninger. UT Tyler finished fifth on the women's side in the 2010 championships.  

“Conference is always an exciting time for the track athletes,” said McMurry head coach Barbara Crousen, who will serve as host of the event. “Our conference is becoming more competitive each year. The great thing is we still feel strongly about the ability to allow student athletes the opportunity to compete. We do not limit the number of entries even though we do limit the number of scoring entries.

“This year we have several very talented and nationally ranked individuals coming into this year’s competition. I would suggest that folks go online to tfrrs.org and see how many athletes coming out of our conference have already qualified to the national meet.”

In addition to Wilford Moore Stadium, events will be held at the new Bobby Lee Carter Throws Complex, which will house the hammer, shot, and discus, and Edwards Field, which will be the location of the javelin.

McMurry enters as 12-time defending conference champions. Crousen’s squad is ranked No. 1 in the country by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

On the women’s side, Texas Lutheran is the defending champion. Head coach Patrick Zarate’s team, ranked No. 7 in the country, also raised the ASC title trophy in 2005.

Action gets underway Friday at 3 p.m. with the hammer throw shot put, long jump and high jump, followed by the 10,000-meter run and 3000-meter steeplechase. The championship meet will then resume Saturday at 9 a.m. with the discus, javelin throw, triple jump and pole vault and last through the completion of the 4x400-meter relay. The awards presentation is set for 5:30 p.m. that day.

The ASC Championships will feature some athletes and teams with the top NCAA Division III marks in the nation this season. McMurry’s Kevin Cunningham and Terry Smith have each recorded a 52.36 in the 400-meters, while the War Hawks 4x100-meter relay team of Cunningham, John Keith, Gavan Bass and Kenneth Turner posted a 41.14 last weekend. Turner also has the second-fastest time in the 200-meters with a 21.30. Concordia Texas’ Chris Randle posted a top-three mark in the high jump with a 6-9.75. Texas Lutheran’s Monique Anderson has a 12.02 in the 100-meters, while teammate Destiney Jones recorded a 40-1.5 in the triple jump.

The 2011 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships will be held from May 26-28 at Selby Field and George Gauthier Track on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan College in Deleware, Ohio. The ASC team and individual champions do not get automatic bids into the national event. Teams and individuals must meet automatic or provisional standards throughout the entire season.

NOTES: Free admission. . . . This is the 15th year of the ASC Championships. . . . The hosting rights for the ASC Championships rotate each year and are determined by the head coaches. . . . For top marks in the nation this season, visit: http://www.tfrrs.org/ . . . . For national qualifying standards, visit: http://www.raceberryjam.com/indexod.html . . . The official ASC Championships website can be found here: http://mcmurrysports.com/sports/2011/4/25/MTRACK_0425112039.aspx . The address for Wilford Moore Stadium is: Ross Avenue & Hunt Street in Abilene, TX. . . . To view last year’s ASC Championships, click here: http://www.ascsports.org/documents/2010/4/24/Day2Results.htm?id=1352 .

2011 AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 29-30 (Friday-Saturday)
Hosted by McMurry University
Abilene, TX
Wilford Moore Stadium, Bobby Lee Carter Throws Complex, Edwards Field

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, April 29

Saturday, April 30