Seven Capital Athletic Conference athletes, including five men from Salisbury University and two women from the University of Mary Washington, have qualified for the 2008 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships, which will begin Thursday (5/22) in Oshkosh, Wis.

In the women's competition, UMW junior Mae Winchester, the school record holder in the 400 meter hurdles, is seeded fifth with a season best time of 1:02.33 seconds.

Senior Cristy Falcone , the school record holder in the 3000 meter steeplechase, is also seeded fifth in the steeplechase.  Her season best time entering the championships is 10:45.06.

Winchester and Falcone's advancement to the NCAA Championships is the first appearance by either runner at the track championships. Falcone has advanced to the past two NCAA cross country championships. Both will attempt to be UMW's first female track All-American since Kim Alvis earned All-America honors in the 400 meters in 2000.

In the men's action, the Salisbury 4x100 relay team of sophomores Justin Acker and Delannie Spriggs along with seniors Samuel Singleton and Kevin Teal is seeded fourth nationally and will run the preliminary race on Thursday, hoping to advance to Saturday's (5/24) championship race.

Acker (18th) and Spriggs (21st) were also selected to compete in the men's 100-meter dash competition and will run preliminaries on Friday (5/23)with the final on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. Spriggs, the only returning Sea Gull to the NCAA national championships, earned All-American status for his performance last season in the 100.

Sophomore Christian Adami will round out the Sea Gulls' competitors as he'll throw the javelin in the preliminary and finals on Saturday. Adami was the last javelin thrower selected.