The NCAA News - News and Features

May 19, 1997

Division III

Team race could go down to the wire

Event: 1997 Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Overview: Lincoln (Pennsylvania) won the 1996 team title by claiming the championships' last event -- the 1,600-meter relay. Five points separated the top four teams. This year's race could be as close. The Lions, who fell short in their quest earlier this year for a third consecutive indoor title, look to redeem themselves by winning for the third straight time outdoors. Only three teams have accomplished the feat in the championships' 23-year history. If the Lions repeat, they'll likely do so behind performances from Tyrone Watkins (110-meter high hurdles), Anthony Julien (400-meter intermediate hurdles), Eric Schmidt (400-meter dash) and Thomas Thompson (long jump). Julien, runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles in 1996, teams with Schmidt, Larry Lyerly and Robert Woolbright to form the squad's 1,600-meter relay, which has claimed the last two titles in that event .... Mount Union, Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin-La Crosse, North Central and Howard Payne seek to end the Lions' reign. Mount Union, sixth in 1996, attempts to leap to the top spot with strong outings from Shawn Watson, defending long- and triple-jump champion; Eugene Kornilov (800- and 1,500-meter runs); Dave Cooper (1,500- and 10,000-meter runs); Seth Peterson (high jump); and David Hill (pole vault) .... Wisconsin-Stout, fifth in 1996, showcases Terry Anders, defending champion in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. Joining Anders are Aaron Fruit (pole vault), Jason Lehman (shot put and discus throw), and 400-meter relay members Jesse Witcraft, Michael Hallingstad and Troy Wyatt .... Four-time champion Wisconsin-La Crosse looks to Mike Schnur, two-time pole-vault champion; Mike Siefert (discus throw); Chris Kaufman (pole vault); and Bruce Altergott (3,000-meter steeplechase) .... North Central is led by David Thompson, who won the indoor long-jump crown, and middle-distance performers Erik Dieckman and Nate Breed .... Howard Payne will be a force with sprinters Wilmer Ray, Sedric Medlock, Marty Van Dyke and Aundre Glenn. As of April 28, the quartet had posted the nation's top four qualifying marks, respectively, in the 100-meter dash.

Field: A maximum of 344 student-athletes will qualify for the championships.

Dates and site: May 21-24 at Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1425 for dates/site/schedule, 5299 for qualifiers, 5300 for first-day results, 5301 for second-day results, 5302 for third-day results and 5304 for final results only. Championship results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Results will be published in the June 2 issue of The NCAA News.