Complete Men's Field
Complete Women's Field
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Four Northern State University track and field athletes have been selected by the NCAA to compete at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships in Charlotte, N.C. The accepted lists were announced by the NCAA early this afternoon.
The NSU contingent includes both of the Wolves’ All-Americans from the indoor season in senior Amanda Madden in the hammer throw and junior Calvin McGruder in the long jump. Senior Bill Cameron also returns to the outdoor championship event in the 400 meter hurdles after missing out last season, while sophomore Melodi Boke makes her national championship debut in the shot put.
Madden, who became NSU’s first ever national champion in the weight throw event during the indoor season, returns to defend her All-America status in the hammer throw this season. The Herreid native was the runner-up in the hammer in 2009 and enters the 2010 meet as a four-time All-American. She currently holds the second-best throw in Division II heading into the national meet. Her mark of 59.26 meters (194 feet, 5 inches) also stands as a new NSU school record. Madden also posted provisional qualifying marks in the discus and shot put, but was not selected to compete in those events.
McGruder waited until the final meet of the season before booking his ticket to the outdoor championships. An All-American in the long jump during the indoor campaign, McGruder posted his qualifying personal best of 7.32 meters (24 feet, ¼ inch) at last Saturday’s Emporia State Last Chance Qualifier. That mark is the 12th best qualifying mark heading into the national meet and also sets a new school record. McGruder is a five-time All-NSIC performer for the Wolves, four of which have come during indoor campaigns.
Cameron, who qualified for the national meet in 2008, returned to form in 2010 and also posted his qualifying effort of 52.64 seconds at the ESU Last Chance meet. He currently holds the 13th fastest time in the 400 meter hurdles in Division II this season. Cameron is also a nine-time All-Conference performer and earned his first individual conference title at the 2010 conference championships in the 400 meter hurdles.
Boke, who provisionally qualified in the shot put during the indoor season but was not selected, makes her championship debut in the shot put after posting a mark of 14.09 meters (46 feet, 2.75 inches). That effort makes her the third NSU athlete headed to the national meet to have laid claim to a school record. Boke currently sits 12th on the national performance list heading into the meet.
This year’s championships will be hosted by Johnson C. Smith University May 27-29. Cameron, McGruder and Madden will all compete on Thursday, while Boke is slated to throw Friday evening. The finals of the 400 meter hurdles will be held on Saturday.