Marietta, Ohio – Five members of the Wheaton College track and field teams competed at the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend, hosted by Marietta College. Seniors Brandi McNeil earned All-American recognition in the women's javelin throw for the fourth time in her career and senior David Larson earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the men's pole vault. Fellow seniors Stephanie Solari (javelin), Michelle Cameron (800-meters) and Lisa Baumert (5,000-meters) also represented Wheaton during the weekend-long event.

(JAVELIN RESULTS) McNeil qualified for the finals with a throw of 136' 7” in the preliminary round that was fourth in her flight and ranked seventh among 19 competitors in the two flights. With her second throw of three in the finals, McNeil launched the javelin 151' 2” for a toss that would be good enough for second place. It marked the second consecutive year that McNeil finished second in Division III at Nationals and was the fourth time that she placed in the top-8 to earn Division III All-American honors. She becomes only the second female Wheaton track and field athlete to earn All-American recognition all four years of her collegiate career, joining Heather Pancake who was a four-time All-American in the heptathlon (1997-2000).

McNeil said of the day, “It was perfect weather. I am not sure if I was letting the pressure get to me in the prelims, or what. But before the finals, coach [Scott] Bradley pulled me aside and just told me that the pressure was off because I had already made the finals and to just go out there and be relaxed. That really helped in the finals.” She added, “It was great to have Steph around, she helped keep me loose.” McNeil noted of her final event as a Wheaton student-athlete, “It is great to finish second, but it is a little bittersweet. It is a bit surreal, I am not sure that it has completely sunk in that this is the last time I get put on the uniform, represent Wheaton and to represent Christ and His Kingdom as a Wheaton athlete.”

Solari competed in the javelin at Nationals for the second consecutive year. Her top throw of the day was 110' 10”, placing her eighth in her flight and 16th overall in the 19-woman field. 

(MEN'S POLE VAULT RESULTS) Thursday night, senior David Larson competed in the men's pole vault at Nationals for the second consecutive year. Larson came into Thursday's competition with the 12th-best height of the 17 competitors. On Thursday night he posted a career-best height of 15' 11-1/4" to finish sixth at Nationals and earn All-American recognition. Larson's effort on Thursday bested his qualifying height of 15' 10” that came on May 15. Larson is the first Wheaton pole vaulter to earn Division III All-American honors since Matt Sheehan finished second at the 2004 Division III Championships.

(WOMEN'S 800-METER RUN RESULTS) On Friday, senior Michelle Cameron competed in the second of three trials for the women's 800-meter run. Cameron posted a time of 2:14.95 to finish sixth in her heat and 16th overall in the 19-woman field. 

(WOMEN'S 5,000-METER RUN RESULTS) Senior Lisa Baumert concluded her tremendous career by finishing 13th of 18 entrants in the women's 5,000-meter with a time of 18:06.45 on Saturday afternoon.