Pioneers to Send School Record Contingent of 14 to 2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s and women’s track and field team will be sending a school record 14 participants to this week's 2011 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Junior Ann Tank qualified with the fourth fastest time in the nation in the 800-meter run (2:10.76). She finished second in the 800-meter run at the 2011 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Tank also qualified in the 400-meter dash with a school record time of 56.88. Sophomore Deidre Dillman qualified in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.16 for her first individual NCAA Championship appearance.

Both Dillman and Tank are members of the UW-Platteville 4x400-meter relay along with Stephanie Wyss and Shea Bierman, who also made it on the indoor circuit in March.

Senior Patrick Klein will be making his fifth appearance at a NCAA Championship and his second-straight NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship appearance. He posted the fifth fastest qualifying time in the 1,500-meter run (3:49.87).
Sophomore Aaron Hrubes qualified in the 100-meter dash (10.70) and 200-meter dash (21.58) as well as a member of the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay.

One of Hrubes’ teammates on both relays, Matthew Ziegler will also be competing in the 400-meter dash.

Sophomore Aaron Loferski will make his first appearance at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 110-meter hurdles.

Joining Hrubes and Ziegler on the 4x400-meter relay will be Patrick Kessenich and Ben Farrell. Hrubes and Ziegler will team up with Casey Goffinet and Jordan Olp on the 4x100-meter relay. Olp was a member of the Pioneers’ 4x100-meter relay team who earned All-American outdoors in 2010.

Also reaching the NCAA Championships are distance standouts, Nathan Petesch and Jason Garvens, who each had NCAA provisional marks in the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run. Petesch will compete in the 5,000-meter run and Garvens will compete in the 10,000-meter run. Both will be looking for their first All-American honors in track and field, Garvens earned All-American honors in cross country in the fall.

The championships will be held May 26-28 on the campus of host Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, Ohio.