SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Track & Field team will have 15 athletes compete in the 2010 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University, in Marion, Ind.

The event begins Thursday, May 27, and will conclude on Saturday, May 29. The Falcons finished the regular season with the same amount of athletes qualifying for the National Championships as they did one year ago. Last year, the Falcon women placed 21st, which was their best finish in program history, and the men finished 44th.

The Falcon men will have eight individual athletes competing in five separate events, including four individual competitions. In the field events, #Jim Boals# will contend in the Discus, and #Tim Robinson# will represent the Falcons in the Shot Put. Senior #Michael Mannozzi# will seek his second national championship as he competes in the 5,000-meter race walk, and #Tom Gay# will take charge in the 400-meter hurdles.

Notre Dame's relay teams have competed well all throughout the spring, and they will use the foursome of #Joseph Leyland#, #Andre Robinson#, DeMar Sheffey#, and #Brandon Tolliver# in the 4x400-meter relay.

The Falcons will send seven women to Marion, Ind., including four whom will compete solo in four individual events. #Noelle Johnson# will take on the competition in both the Triple Jump, and Long Jump. #Samantha Murphy# will represent the Falcons in the Shot Put, and both #Tiffany Tucker# and #Jessica Thomas# will race in the 100-meter high hurdles. Tucker, along with #Ava Woods#, #Shawnta Davis#, and #Lauren Macer# are slated to compete in the 4x100-meter relay.

“We are proud of the season all of our athletes have had and really look forward to this weekend's National Championship meet,” said Head Coach #Rico Franklin#. “All of our men and women that will be traveling for next week's meet have put in the time, effort and energy to be a part of a great season finale. We have been anticipating this meet all year and look forward to a great meet.”

The Falcons had 17 athletes qualify for the National Championships. For more information, and the schedule of events, visit the NAIA National Championships site.