CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Cardinal and White of Chico State will be prominently displayed early and often at the 2010 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships hosted by Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., May 27-29. Thirteen Chico State athletes were awarded NCAA Championship berths Wednesday, including Michael Wickman, Jimmy Elam, and Tori Tyler, who will participate in two events apiece.

A list of Chico State participants and their events:
Men
Ryan Bertucci: High jump
Jimmy Elam: 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters
Talor Fulfer: Decathlon
Brent Handa: 5,000 meters
Jake Nelson: Decathlon
Beau Rogers: 3,000-meter steeplechase
J. Patrick Smith: Decathlon
Michael Wickman: 800 meters and 1,500 meters

Women
Kelly Clancey: Heptathlon
Julianne Conrad: High jump
Kara Lubieniecki: 1,500 meters
Katrina Rodriguez: Pole vault
Tori Tyler: 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters

Wickman, who finished third in the 800 and 1,500 meters at last year’s national championships, is among the favorites to win both of those events this year. Elam, who will run the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, boasts the fifth-best time in the nation this year in the 10K. He will be out for redemption after finishing one spot shy of All-America recognition in ninth at last year’s 10K. Tyler will also run the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and has clocked the third and sixth fastest times in the nation this season in those respective events. She finished fourth in the 10K at last year’s National Championships.

The Wildcats’ always-strong distance running program will also feature Handa joining Elam in the 5,000 meters, Rogers in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Lubieniecki in the 1,500 meters. Rogers finished fifth at last year’s national championships, while Lubieniecki failed to qualify for the finals in the 5,000 meters. She’s hoping that frustrating run will give her the experience and motivation to perform much better this time around.

A trio of Chico State decathletes will kick off the weekend’s action on Thursday morning. Nelson, Fulfer, and Smith each earned a spot in the 12-athlete event that takes place over two days. Clancey, meanwhile, will compete in the heptathlon that kicks off just one hour later and also runs through Friday.

Bertucci, who finished 10th in the high jump as a sophomore and fourth last season as a junior, will attempt to wrap up his career with an even better finish this year.

Rodriguez, who owns the sixth highest clearance in the nation this year is among the favorites in the pole vault. Conrad was the final athlete allowed in the high jump, but the nature of the competition gives her a solid chance to earn a top-eight finish and All-America honors.

The joy of the knowledge of all 13 athletes earning a trip to Charlotte was tempered by the realization that a number of Wildcats just missed the cut. According to Distance Coach Gary Towne, steeplechasers Miles Dunbar and Jordan Fairley, 10,000-meter runner Julie Shaw, and 1,500-meter runner Manny Mejia boasted times that would have qualified for every Division II championship before this one. Also, Clinton Hayes missed the cutoff in the 800 meters by a hundredth of a second and Brian Beeman just missed out on a berth in the decathlon.

Schedule of events featuring Chico State athletes (all times PDT)
Thursday, May 27
7:00 a.m. – Decathlon: Jake Nelson, Talor Fulfer and J. Patrick Smith (100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter dash).
8:00 a.m. – Heptathlon: Kelly Clancey (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash).
2:40 p.m. – Women’s 1,500 meters (prelims): Kara Lubieniecki.
2:55 p.m. – Men’s 1,500 meters (prelims): Michael Wickman.
4:40 p.m. – Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (prelims): Beau Rogers.
5:40 p.m. – Women’s 10,000 meters (final): Tori Tyler.
6:20 p.m. – Men’s 10,000 meters (final): Jimmy Elam.
Friday, May 28
7:00 a.m. – Decathlon: Nelson, Fulfer and Smith (110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1,500 meters).
8:00 a.m. – Heptathlon: Clancey (Long jump, javelin, 800 meters).
2:05 p.m. – Women’s Pole Vault (final): Katrina Rodriguez.
2:10 p.m. – Men’s High Jump (final): Ryan Bertucci.
3:55 p.m. – Men’s 800 meters (prelim): Wickman.
4:50 p.m. – Women’s 5,000 meters (prelim): Tyler.
5:35 p.m. – Men’s 5,000 meters (prelim): Elam and Brent Handa.
Saturday, May 29
2:25 p.m. – Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (final): Rogers.
2:35 p.m. – Women’s High jump (final): Julianne Conrad.
3:05 p.m. – Women’s 5,000 meters (final): Lubieniecki.
3:15 p.m. – Men’s 1500 meters (final): Wickman.
4:46 p.m. – Men’s 800 meters (final): Wickman.
5:43 p.m. – Women’s 5,00 meters (final): Tyler.
6:03 p.m. – Men’s 5,000 meters (final): Elam and Handa.

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