May 21, 2008

WALNUT, Calif. - Clarion University sophomore Ann Stinson (New Castle/Shenango) is set to compete in the 26^th annual NCAA Division II women's national track and field championships Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.

Stinson will throw the javelin for the Golden Eagles, an event in which she won the PSAC Championship earlier this month. She is seeded 11th in the event with a season-best throw of 43.88 meters (143-11 feet).

"I am very excited for Ann," Clarion's second-year head coach Jayson Resch said. "Our goal for her going into the competition is to place in the Top 10. I believe she is confident and mentally prepared to compete at the next level, and she has been improving throughout the season. We are confident she has made some adjustments to her technique which will prepare her for the championships."

According to Resch, Stinson has shown throughout the season an ability to respond to a high level of competition.

"The meet at Penn State (May 10) provided Ann with the opportunity to compete against some great competition," Resch said. "She was able to respond taking fourth with a throw of 136 feet, three inches."

Resch also said Stinson is coming off a good week of practice to prepare for the NCAA meet.

"She had a great week of practice last week," Resch said.

Stinson is trying to become the first Golden Eagle field All-American since Julie Evenoski took eighth in the javelin in 2003. Clarion's Erin Richard was a two-time All-American (5,000 and 10,000) at last season's meet.

NOTES - The javelin is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. PDT or 4:30 p.m. EDT Saturday ... This is the third consecutive season the Clarion's women's team has had at least one participant at the NCAA D-II outdoor meet but the first time since 2004 that the Golden Eagles have had a field participant.In 2004, Carrie Bullman threw the javelin, which was the third straight year she had qualified for the NCAA's in the event ... Richard qualified for this year's NCAA meet but isn't able to participate because of a season-ending injury ... Evenoski holds the school record in the javelin with a throw of 145-8 in 2003 ... Further championship information including live results can be found on the Cal Poly Pomona web site ... Stinson is also a member of Clarion's women's basketball team that went 18-9 overall and 8-4 in the PSAC-West. The 18 wins tied for the sixth most in school history.