May 13, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Western Washington University is sending four women athletes, two for the second straight year, to the 2008 NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held May 22-24 at Walnut, Calif.

Making up the quartet, which received official confirmation today, are Heidi Dimmitt (Jr., Wenatchee) in the 400-meter hurdles, Monika Gruszecki (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale) in the javelin, Sarah Porter (Fr., Hockinson) in the 10,000, and Christy Miller (Jr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly) in the pole vault.

"We're sending a good solid contingent," said Western coach PeeWee Halsell. They all have national experience indoor or outdoor. They just have to go perform well."

It will be a return trip for both Gruszecki, who is the defending national champion and the school's first automatic qualifier, and Dimmitt.

Gruszecki, who ranks seventh nationally, has thrown over 140-feet in every competition this season with a best of 146-2. Her personal record is 146-10. Last year, Gruszecki took the national title with a toss of 145-8 after entering the competition ranked fifth in the country.

Dimmitt set a meet record in winning the 400 hurdles at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. She ranks 16th nationally with a personal best of 1:01.69. That is over two seconds faster than last year when Dimmitt placed sixth in a heat at nationals with a 1:03.95 clocking.

Porter also ranks 16th nationally in the 10,000 with a school-record time of 36:31.85. The GNAC champion in that event, she placed 15th in the 5,000 at the indoor nationals in March and set a school record of 17:25.84.

Miller is tied for 15th nationally in the pole vault, with a school-record clearance of 12-3 ½ . She tied for 12th at indoor nationals, clearing 11-7 ¾.

Two men narrowly missed qualifying for nationals. Jordan Welling (Fr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) had the 18th best time in the 10,000 meters (30:35.82), but the field was cut off at 17, and Keith Lemay (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) had the 20th time in the 800 (1:52.29), missing the 19-entry field by 0.02 of a second.

"I'm disappointed we didn't get a couple men in," said Halsell. "But it was close. It was close for the women, too. Dimmitt probably got in with her time in Seattle last Saturday, and Porter qualified with the 10,000 at conference the week before."