Field: The Division III Championships Committee has approved a qualifying procedure that allows for a maximum of 200 student-athletes, up from 149 in 1999.

Dates and site: March 10 and 11 at Illinois Wesleyan.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/563-1133 (pin code 1915); request numbers are 1584 for dates/site/schedule, 5284 for qualifiers, 5285 for day one results, 5286 for day two results and 5287 for finals-only results. Championships results will be published in the March 27 issue of The NCAA News..

Championships notes: The distance medley relay and pole vault will be contested for the first time. Wheaton (Massachusetts) edged Wisconsin-La Crosse, 43-38, to win its first title in 1999. Deshawnda Williams was the key individual for Wheaton last year, winning the 400-meter dash for the second consecutive year and placing third in the 55-meter dash. Williams should play a major role again in 2000, as she has the fastest time thus far in both the 55 (7.09 seconds) and 400 (56.96 seconds). She also is a member of Wheaton's 1,600-meter relay unit, which has the best time in the country thus far. Rhondale Jones of Lincoln (Pennsylvania) is the defending champion in both the 55 dash and hurdles, and currently has the best time in the hurdles and is second behind Williams in the dash.