Three members of the Westfield State College women's outdoor track and field team will be competing in the NCAA Division III national championships this week, May 21-23, at Marietta (Ohio) College.
Qualifying for the national championships are junior Kerry Arouca (Hanson) in the steeplchase, and seniors Marlee Berg (Chelmsford) and Caitlin Handock (Cumberland, Maine) in the high jump.
Berg has the fourth best high jump nationally this season, clearing a school record height of 5-7. During the 2009 NCAA Division III indoor championships, she claimed the national crown by clearing 5-6 1/2.
Berg is a four-time national qualifier. She placed 11th in the high jump in the 2008 outdoor national finals and 12th in the pentathlon during the 2009 indoor season.
Arouca is making her third trip to the NCAA championships this academic year. She participated in the national finals in cross country and the indoor track season when she just missed All America honors by placing ninth in the 5,000 meter run. Arouca is ranked ninth nationally in the steeplechase with a school record time of 10:44.54.
Handcock is making her first trip of the NCAA championships; she qualified by clearing 5-5 3/4 in the high jump.
Go to the following Web site for complete updates during the championships: raceberryjam.com
The women's steeplechase is scheduled to begin Friday at 5:35 p.m. and the high jump is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m.