W&M Women Aim for NCAA Qualifications at East Regionals

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - 2005 CAA Champion William and Mary women's track and field will eye NCAA qualifications as nine of its athletes contest the NCAA East Regional May 27-28 in New York, NY. The top five finishers from each Regional event (top three for relays) will receive automatic qualifications to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and a yet-undetermined number of at-large berths will also be available after the conclusion of Regional based on the size of the field in each event after automatic qualifiers enter their declarations. Qualification for the NCAAs can only come via a Regional performance in all events, except in the 10,000m and heptathlon which continue to use provisional and automatic marks, similar to the indoor season. Athletes could qualify for the Regional field by breaking a Regional standard or winning a conference championship in that event.

Senior Jackie Kosakowski (Sauquoit, NY) will aim to qualify for the NCAAs in the 3,000m steeplechase after winning the ECAC title in the event two weeks ago by shattering her personal record with a winning time of 10:34.05, breaking the NCAA Regional standard. Junior Kristyn Shiring (Stafford, VA), who is enjoying a breakout season, will also aim for an automatic qualification in the 5,000m and enters the Regional with a seed of 16:36.93, coming in a personal-record performance at the Cardinal Invitational earlier this month. Junior Ayanna Jones (Richmond, VA) threw for a school-record 48'6" in the shot in early April to earn a Regional qualification and also earned her second CAA title in the event this season. Sophomore Meghan Bishop (Blue Bell, PA) qualified for the 1,500m for a second-straight year by repeating as CAA Champion in the event with a winning time of 4:33.15. She has since improved that mark with a personal record 4:29.09, set in ECAC prelims two weeks ago. Sophomore Brenna Blevins (Pulaski, VA) broke the Regional standard with a personal best of 143'10" in the javelin, coming in an All-East, fifth-place heptathlon performance at ECACs two weeks ago. Blevins will also be one of five athletes in the Tribe's 4x400m relay pool as the College received an automatic Regional bid after winning the CAA title in the event with a time of 3:50.94. Combining for the title at CAAs were sophomore Mary Whitehead (Dulles, VA), Blevins, junior Lydia Malley (Arlington, VA) and senior Naomi Mattos (Woodbridge, VA). Freshman Allie Lewis (Roanoke, VA) ran in place of Mattos at ECACs two weeks ago as Mattos was attending graduation, and Lewis could replace Blevins at the Regional as Blevins concentrates on the javelin.

Qualified Athletes
Event Athletes Qualifying Mark Meet
1,500m Meghan Bishop 4:33.15* CAA Championships
5,000m Kristyn Shiring 16:36.93 Stanford Cardinal Invitational
3,000m steeplechase Jackie Kosakowski 10:34.05 Outdoor ECACs
4x400m Relay Mary Whitehead. Brenna Blevins, Lydia Malley, Naomi Mattos, Allie Lewis 3:50.94* CAA Championships
Shot Ayanna Jones 48'6.0" CNU Captains Classic
Javelin Brenna Blevins 143'10" Outdoor ECAC
* Auto-bid for conference champion