RELEASE DATE: 5/12/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CHARITY LEARN BECOMES FIRST WOMEN RUNNER IN MU HISTORY TO EARN A TRIP TO NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

MANSFIELD – Freshman sensation Charity Learn (Troy/North Penn) became the first women’s runner in school history to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championship where she will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Learn won the PSAC 3,000 meter steeplechase title at the PSAC Track and Field Championship this past weekend with a school record time of 11:09.26. It was the ninth fastest time in NCAA Division II this season and just the second time she had ever competed in the event.

The NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championship will be held at the University of Southern Illinois-Evansville from May 22-24.

Learn will compete in the preliminaries on May 22 with the hopes of finishing in the top eight to advance to the finals on May 24.

This past season, Learn broke the school record in the 1500 meters, 3000 meters, steeplechase, 5000 meters and 10,000 meters.

###