May 15, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University is sending four student-athletes, matching the largest contingent in school history, to the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships on May 24-26 at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Making up the quartet, which received official confirmation today, are Sam Brancheau (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase; Heidi Dimmitt (So., Wenatchee) in the women's 400 hurdles; Monika Gruszecki (Fr., Edmonds/Meadowdale) in the women's javelin, and Anthony Tomsich (So., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley) in the men's 1,500. They compete at the Irwin Belk Complex on the campus of host Johnson C. Smith University.

It is the first trip to the outdoor championships for all four Vikings. Brancheau and Tomsich went to the national indoor meet in early March and placed second as members of a distance medley relay that posted a school-record time of 9:55.00. Brancheau also ran for Western at the 2003 cross country nationals.

Gruszecki ranks fifth nationally in the javelin with a mark of 146-10 established on March 10. Tomsich is rated eighth in the 1,500 (3:50.25), Brancheau 11th in the steeplechase (9:12.29), and Dimmitt 15th in the 400 hurdles (1:02.01).

"All of these athletes have an excellent chance of earning All-America honors (by placing among the top eight)," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "They are all ranked high and anything can happen at a national meet."

Dimmitt posted her best time last Saturday at the Seattle Pacific Invitational after reaching the provisional standard the week before when she won at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships with a 1:02.94 clocking.

Tomsich had his season-best time in a winning effort at the GNAC meet, while Brancheau had his top performance at the Oregon Invitational.

"Dimmitt is a tenacious competitor and Brancheau has that national experience to draw upon," Halsell said. "Tomsich has had an incredible year and I think he's going to end it on a high note."

"I feel a lot better about Gruszecki after her (second-place) performance at the GNAC championships. She hit the provisional mark in our first meet, so we've been concentrating our efforts on training."

All three Western runners have heats Thursday, May 24, with the men's 1,500 at 4:35 p.m. ET, men's steeplechase at 6:15 p.m. and women's 400 hurdles at 7:10 p.m.

On Saturday, Gruszecki competes in the javelin at 2:15 p.m, with the men's steeplechase final at 5:15 p.m., men's 1,500 at 6 p.m. and women's 400 hurdles at 7:09 p.m. Western had a school-record 12 national provisional qualifying times or marks this spring.

The Vikings also sent four athletes to nationals in 2000.