RELEASE DATE: 05/23/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chris Cummings, Jeremy Confer, Charity Walker Will Compete at NCAA Division II National Championships This Week

Three members of the Mansfield University Track and Field team flew out of Elmira Airport this morning on their way to Emporia, Kansas and Emporia State University -- the host of the 2006 NCAA Division II National Championships. Wednesday evening will kick off the week's events with the annual awards banquet. Junior sensation Chris Cummings will be one of the athletes honored that evening when he accepts his regional Athlete of the Year award.

Thursday is the first official day of competition and both Cummings and Charity Walker will run in preliminary trials for their races. Cummings will be the first to compete as he will run the 1500 meter run at 4:35pm on Thursday. He will need to either be in the top four finishers of his heat, or have one of the next four fastest times to advance to the Championship final. He hopes to make it to the final with as little effort as possible as he wishes to earn his second All-American honors after doing so in the mile run during indoor track. Athletes must finish in the top eight in the country to earn All-American honors. Chris currently ranks fourth in the Nation in the 1500. If Cummings can advance to the final, he will run Saturday evening at 6:00pm.

Charity Walker will be the second to compete when she steps on the track at 5:50pm to run the preliminary heat of the 3000 meter steeplechase. Like Chris, she will have to finish in the top four in her heat or have one of the next four fastest times to advance to the final. Charity currently ranks 13th in the Nation in the event. If Walker qualifies for the final, she will run Saturday evening at 5:00pm.

Senior javelin thrower Jeremy Confer achieved a lifelong goal by being accepted into the field of throwers at the national meet. Confer is the 11th accepted thrower in the 16 member field with his school record throw of 202 feet 10 inches. He will be joined by a strong contingent of PSAC throwers as four other members of the PSAC will be throwing along side him. Confer will wait until Saturday to compete as there are no preliminary rounds for the Javelin. Jeremy will throw Saturday morning at 11:30am in the finals.

Emporia State University has established a website for the National Championships where you can track the schedule and results as they are posted. For live results as the events are run, visit the results page here.