Conference

RICHARDSON, Texas –– The 2009 American Southwest Conference Track and Field Championships are set for Friday and Saturday (April 24-25) at James E. Parkman Track at Robinson-Hale Stadium on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.

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

McMurry enters with both defending champions. Head coach Barbara Crousen’s men squad, who went on to win the NCAA Division III national title last season, have won 10 straight ASC titles. Crousen’s women have claimed three straight and nine of the last 10. Texas Lutheran won the women’s title in 2005.

Howard Payne, which no longer sponsors the sport, won the first two ASC men’s crowns in 1997 and 1998. Austin College, which is no longer an ASC member, claimed the first two women’s championships.

Action gets underway Friday at 3 p.m. with the hammer and javelin throw, followed by the long jump and triple jump at 4 p.m., the 3,000m steeplechase at 5 p.m. and the 10,000m run at 6 p.m. The championships will then resume Saturday at 9 a.m. with the discus throw, pole vault and high jump. The shot put is set for an11 a.m. start. The running events begin at noon with the women’s 4x100 meter relay and conclude at 3:50 p.m. with the men’s 4x400 relay. The awards presentation is set for 5:20 p.m.

The ASC Championships will feature some athletes and teams with the top NCAA Division III marks in the nation this season. McMurry senior Hann Ollison owns the top times in the 200 meter dash (21.21, at McMurry Relays on April 2) and 400 meter dash (46.59, at Texas Twighlight on April 18) and is part of the 4x400 meter relay team with Brendon Bounds, Bryce Williamson and Jeremy Wilson that ran a 3:13.54 at the Angelo State Relays on April 9. Hardin-Simmons senior Ashley Huston set the high jump mark of 1.70m (5-7) at the David Noble Relays on April 9 and the heptathlon score of 5138 at the Texas Relays on April 2.

The 2009 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships will be held from May 21-23 at Don Drumm Stadium on the campus of Marietta College in Marietta, 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.