Junior Jessica Rydberg will look to earn the second All-America scroll of her career in the 10,000m.

14 Irish Track And Field Student-Athletes Head To NCAAs

June 5, 2012

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

RESULTS

HEAT SHEETS – WOMEN

HEAT SHEETS – MEN

NCAA.COM – WEDNESDAY

ESPN3 – THURSDAY

ESPN3 – FRIDAY

ESPN3 – SATURDAY

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Fourteen Notre Dame track and field student-athletes are on their way to Des Moines, Iowa and the famous Drake Stadium for the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which are set for Wednesday through Saturday.

Seven men’s competitors are slated to compete in five events, while seven female competitors will participate in four events. The 14 total competitors and seven on each team are the most in Irish outdoor history for one NCAA Championship.

On the men’s side, Kevin Schipper (Pole Vault) and Johnathan Shawel (1,500m) make their second career appearances at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Schipper was an All-American in 2010 and is the first Irish men’s pole vaulter to qualify for multiple NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Leo, Ind., native earned All-America status at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

Shawel is coming off a national championship in the men’s Distance Medley Relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March and finished fourth two weeks ago at the NCAA East Preliminary Round to qualify for Des Moines.

Making their first career appearances are Patrick Feeney (400m, 4x400m relay), Martin Grady (10,000m), Brendan Dougherty (4x400m relay) and Mitchell Lorenz (4x400m relay).

On the women’s side, junior Jessica Rydberg (10,000m) makes her second career appearance in the 10,000m race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, as she was an All-American as a freshman in 2010.

Making their first appearances at nationals include Rebecca Tracy (1,500), Kaila Barber (400m hurdles), Megan Yanik (400m hurdles, 4x400m relay), Jade Barber (4x400m relay), Michelle Brown (4x400m relay) and Natalie Geiger (4x400m relay).

Fans have a plethora of ways to follow the action. NCAA.com will stream Wednesday’s action online, while ESPN3 will stream the final three days online. Both sites are free, and links are available on UND.com. ESPNU will also cover Saturday’s action from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (ET).

For fans on the go, GoDrakeBulldogs.com will provide a free live blog, and its Twitter (@DUBulldogs) and Facebook pages (www.facebook.com/DrakeAthletics) will offer live updates as well.

UND.com will have coverage at the conclusion of all three days, with periodic updates available on the Facebook (www.facebook.com/NDXCTF) and Twitter (@NDXCTF) pages.

NOTRE DAME PARTICIPANTS (All Times Central)

MEN’S PARTICIPANTS (Name – Event – Day – Time – Qualifying Time)
Patrick Feeney – 400m – Wednesday – 6:45 p.m. – 46.27
Johnathan Shawel – 1,500m – Thursday – 6:15 p.m. – 3:46.26
Martin Grady – 10,000m – Wednesday – 8:45 p.m. – 30:37.85
Kevin Schipper – Pole Vault – Friday – 4:30 p.m. – 5.32m
Brendan Dougherty, Feeney, Mitchell Lorenz, Chris Giesting – 4x400m Relay – Thursday – 8:05 p.m. – 3:06.20

WOMEN’S PARTICIPANTS (Name – Event – Day – Time – Qualifying Time)
Rebecca Tracy – 1,500m – Thursday – 6:30 p.m. – 4:16.94
Jessica Rydberg – 10,000m – Thursday – 8:45 p.m. – 34:36.86
Kaila Barber – 400m Hurdles – Wednesday – 8:30 p.m. – 57.90
Megan Yanik – 400m Hurdles – Wednesday – 8:30 p.m. – 58.24
Jade Barber, Michelle Brown, Yanik, Natalie Geiger – 4x400m Relay – Thursday – 8:25 p.m. – 3:35.85

–ND–