Horizon League boasts 33 student-athletes at NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Mideast Regional this weekend.

May 24, 2006

Watch the 2006 NCAA Mideast Regional LIVE on the web at NCAASports.com

Meet Schedule

Thirty-three Horizon League Track & Field athletes will be competing at the NCAA Mideast Regional this weekend on the Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.  Hosted by the University of Tennessee, the Mideast Regional begins Friday, May 26 at 11 a.m.

The 2006 Horizon League Champion Youngstown State University women's team will compete in five events, including both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays, 100m hurdles, 100m dash and weight throw.  On the men's side for the Penguins, Horizon League champions Derek Riker and Aaron Merrill will compete in the pole vault and shot put, respectively.

Six Butler University runners will compete at this year's regional, including Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year Scott Overall, who will run in the men's 5000m.  Joining Overall will be teammates Alex Hains in the men's 1500m, Ava Hutchinson in the women's 1500m, both Jenny Pereira and Genny Gardner in the women's 5000m and Kate Buchan in the 800m.

Joining Buchan in the 800m is Tenia Fisher of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Fisher is one of three Panthers competing at the regionals, joining Jeremy Majors (men's 800m) and Josh Nygren (steeplechase).

Horizon League Champion Nick Gazis of the University of Illinois at Chicago will compete in the discus on Friday, while Flames' teammate Trent Thompson will run the 400m dash.  The UIC men will also compete in the 4x100m relay on Friday, while Idara Essien will participate in the women's triple jump on Saturday.

Rounding out the group of Horizon League participants are the University of Detroit Mercy's LeAnn Sarka (steeplechase) and Krista Switzer (javelin) and Marcia Faustin of Loyola University Chicago (long jump).

Three other regionals will also be held this week, including the East Region hosted by North Carolina A & T State University, the West Region hosted by Brigham Young University and the Midwest Region hosted by the University of Texas.  The 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held June 7-10 at the A.G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Cal.

Horizon League Regional Qualifiers

Day One: May 26

Women's Long Jump:      Marcia Faustin, Loyola

Men's Pole Vault:            Derek Riker, Youngstown State

Men's Discus:                 Nick Gazis, UIC

Women's 1500m:           Ava Hutchinson, Butler

Men's 1500m:                Alex Hains, Butler

Women's 100mH:           Satara Freeman, Youngstown State

Women's 800m:             Tenia Fisher, UW-Milwaukee

                                    Kate Buchan, Butler

Men's 800m:                  Jeremy Majors, UW-Milwaukee

Women's 100m:             Danielle Bolt, Youngstown State

Women's Javelin:           Krista Switzer, Detroit

Men's 400m:                  Trent Thompson, UIC

Women's 5000m:           Jenni Pereira, Butler

                                    Genny Gardner, Butler

Men's 5000m:                Scott Overall, Butler

Women's 4x100:            Youngstown State

Men's 4x100:                 UIC

Day Two: May 27

Weight Throw:               Bethany Anderson, Youngstown State

Shot Put:                       Aaron Merrill, Youngstown State

Triple Jump:                  Idara Essien, UIC

Women's Steeplechase: LeAnn Sarka, Detroit

Men's Steeplechase:       Josh Nygren, UW-Milwaukee

Women's 4x400m:         Youngstown State