PICTURED ABOVE: Ellie Hawthorne posted a time of 10:43.77 in the 3,000-meter women's steeplechase, an effort that ranks ninth in Division III this year.

The Wheaton track and field teams sent representatives to a pair of "Last Chance Meets" this week in a final attempt to earn a qualifying mark for the Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in La Crosse, Wisconsin. On Monday, several Wheaton competitors participated at the Swarthmore Final Qualifier, hosted by Swarthmore College. On Wednesday and Thursday Wheaton participated in North Central's "Gregory Qualifier". The NCAA will officially announce selections for next week's championships on Saturday.

SWARTHMORE FINAL QUALIFIER

Monday's trip to Pennsylvania was highlighted by the Thunder women's 4X400 meter relay team of Favor Ezewuzie, Natasha Brown, Marissa Heath and Erika Johnson with a first-place time of 3:48.12. The effort that is third in Division III. Additionally, Johnson won the 800 meters in 2:12.67 with an effort that currently ranked 17th in Division III.

Ezewuzie placed second in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 12.35-seconds in the event. Heath finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.19.
 

NORTH CENTRAL'S "GREGORY QUALIFIER"

Ezewuzie won the long jump with a leap of 5.79-meters (19' 0") that ranks seventh in Division III. Ezewuzie posted a time of 14.68-seconds in the finals of the women's 100-meter hurdles to finish first and Abby Grace McGee was fourth in the same event in 15.06-seconds. Ezewuzie's third win of the event came in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.37-seconds in the finals.

Ellie Hawthorne placed second in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:43.77 that ranks ninth in Division III in the event to earn her a spot at Nationals next weekend. Johnson was fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.49.

Collin Gray won the men's high jump with a leap of 2.05-meters (6' 8-3/4"). Joey Paolina was fifth in the men's shot put with a toss of 13.17-meters (43' 2-14") and Leif Van Grinsven was sixth in the long jump at 6.33-meters (20' 9-1/4".