Four Bulldogs Chosen For NCAA Championships

Click Here For Official NCAA Release

Big Rapids, Mich. - Four members of the Ferris State University women's track and field team have been chosen to compete in the 2011 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The announcement of this year's national championship selections was made by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field committee.

A total of 620 participants, including both 310 men and 310 women, will compete in the championships May 26-28 in Turlock, Calif.  The NCAA-II Championships will be hosted by Cal-State Stanislaus with competition at the Al Brenda Track Complex located at Warrior Stadium.

The Bulldogs' national qualifiers include a trio of distance standouts in freshman Samantha Johnson, sophomore Alyssa Osika and senior Tina Muir along with freshman thrower Jessica Pilling.

Muir will represent the Bulldogs' in two events, including the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters.  Both Osika and Johnson will take part in the 1,500 meters while Pilling will compete in the hammer throw.

All four FSU representatives will compete in next Thursday's (May 26) opening day of competition at the national championships.

Pilling will be in action first for the Bulldogs as she competes in the hammer throw starting at 3 p.m. (PT).  She ranks 14th overall of 17 throwers heading into the meet with a season-best toss of 54.78 meters.

Meanwhile, both Osika and Johnson are slated to take part in the 1,500 meters on Thursday beginning at 5:40 p.m. (PT) with preliminary round actioin.  Osika holds the 11th-fastest time (4:31.09) of 17 qualifiers with Johnson 12th (4:31.11) in the field.

Finally, Muir hits the track last in opening day competition as she will take part in the 10,000 meters at 8:40 p.m. (PT).  Her school-record time of 35:07.25 is ninth among the 18 qualifiers.

Muir will also compete nearly 48 hours later in the 5,000 meters on Saturday (May 28) at 8:35 p.m. (PT).  She's 18th in the field heading into the meet with a top time of 16:49.40 overall.

The Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be streamed live NCAA.com each day of the championships. Highlights of the championships will be shown on CBS HD at 4 p.m. ET, Sunday, June 19 (all broadcast air dates, times and networks are subject to change). The seasonal show features highlights of 18 different NCAA championships that took place during the spring.