NCAA Division II championships begin Thursday in Bradenton, Florida...

BRADENTON, Florida—All four of Washington’s NCAA Division II schools will begin competition Thursday at the NCAA Division II track and field championships at the IMG Academy Track & Field Stadium.

WESTERN WASHINGTON goes into the national championships with a squad of 12 athletes (7 women, 5 men), which is the most in school history, led by 2014 NCAA javelin champion Bethany Drake (left/photo courtesy WWU Athletics).  

Drake, who is currently ranked #3 in Division II going into the nationals, finished second at the GNAC championship meet to teammate Katie Reichert, who is also entered at the nationals in this event.  The Vikings have two other women entered in the javelin in Anosi Laupola, and Mariah Horton.  WWU also has John Haskin and Alex Barry entered in the men’s javelin.

Sprinter Alex Donigian is entered in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes, while Travis Milbrandt is entered in the 110 hurdles.

GNAC women’s team champs SEATTLE PACIFIC has five athletes in the meet, led by Lynelle Decker, who will be making her 11th appearance for the Falcons at an NCAA championship meet in cross country (3), indoor track (4), and outdoor track (4).

Decker races in the 1500 semis Thursday, and the 800 semis on Friday, with the finals in both events on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON, who gave Seattle Pacific a scare at the GNAC champs two weeks ago, has four entries (3 women, 1 men), led by high jumper Tayler Fettig & steeplechaser Dani Eggleston, who was an All-American in that event last year.  The Wildcats’ lone male competitor is hammer thrower Armando Tafoya.

SAINT MARTIN’S has three competitors in the meet, led by All-American Mikel Smith in the men’s high jump, and indoor All-American Shannon Porter, who is entered in the women’s 1500 and 5000.  The Saints’ other competitor is women’s javelin thrower Deanna Avalos.

The home page with links to heat sheets, meet schedule, and declared athletes for the NCAA Division II championships is available here.

NCAA.com will offer live streaming of the meet, which you can access here.

EX-HUSKIES COMPETE IN DAKAR WEDNESDAY

A pair of University of Washington alums competed at the IAAF World Challenge meet in Dakar, Senegal on Wednesday.

Norris Frederick finished fourth in the long jump with an outdoor season best of 25-3.5 (7.71m), as Jarvis Gotch of the USA won with a best of 27-3.25.

Diamara Planell Cruz failed to clear a height in the women’s pole vault, as Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela won with a best of 14-5.25 (4.40m).

Complete results of the IAAF World Challenge are available here.