Twenty Missouri Valley Conference athletes have punched tickets to the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship as automatic qualifiers with standout performances in regional competition on Friday and Saturday.  MVC member Drake will host for the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championship at historic Drake Stadium on June 11-14.

Performers placing in the top-five of an individual event or relay teams claiming top-three finishes at the regional meet earn automatic qualification into the NCAA Championship meet.

MVC athletes not achieving automatic qualification through the regional meets are eligible for an at-large selection in the field.  Selections are based on the following from the NCAA handbook:

After the automatic qualifiers (top five declared student-athletes in individual events, top three declared relays based upon regional performance) have been identified, the committee will place the next seven declared student-athletes/relay teams (plus ties based on place) in each event based upon regional performance into the national at-large pool.

The at-large pool student-athletes are then listed in order of their best performance of the year, including any best marks established at the regional meet. The committee will fill the field in each event by starting at the top of the at-large pool until the cap of 544 student-athletes per gender is reached.

NCAA Championship Ticket Information

NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifiers

Men

Kyle Becker, Wichita State – javelin

Raven Cepeda – decathlon

Mat Clark, UNI – decathlon

Steve Daniel, Indiana State – triple jump

Tyler Mulder, UNI – 800m

Ehi Oamen, UNI – high jump

Terrance Reid, UNI – 400m

Brenton Siemons, Southern Illinois – shot put

Brett Trudo, Wichita State – javelin

Dorian Ulrey, UNI – 1500m

Women

Leander Ernest, Missouri State – 800m

Kylie Hutson, Indiana State – pole vault

Rachel Jansen, UNI – shot put, hammer, discus

Mica Land, Wichita State – steeplechase

Lauren Martin, Indiana State – triple jump

Erica Moore, Indiana State – 400 hurdles

Brittany Riley, Southern Illinois – hammer, discus

Dani Stipe, UNI – heptathlon

Bianca Stuart, Southern Illinois – long jump

Jamie Vest, Missouri State – steeplechase