May 23, 2007

Philadelphia, PA -- 11 La Salle University track and field student-athletes are among the field of competitors set to compete in the NCAA East Regional Championships at the University of Florida's Pressly Stadium this weekend  in Gainesville, FL.

"We are very excited about this opportunity. It's our goal to qualify as many athletes for the NCAA meet as possible," said 14-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Charles Torpey. "The Eastern Region is just a tremendously strong area of programs and it's going to be great having such a strong representation for La Salle and the rest of the Atlantic 10." Coach Charles Torpey

The largest single-season representation of Explorer athletes will compete for a spot in the NCAA Championships to be held in Sacramento, CA June 6-9. 

"We are very excited about this opportunity.  It's our goal to qualify as many athletes for the NCAA meet as possible," said 14-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Charles Torpey.  "The Eastern Region is just a tremendously strong area of programs and it's going to be great having such a strong representation for La Salle and the rest of the Atlantic 10."

Already attaining an invite to the NCAA Championships is senior Sean Quigley (Braintree, MA/Archbishop Williams) who has qualified outright in the 1000-meter event.   Teammate and two-time A-10 Champion in the 5000m Rachel Papin (Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert) has also provisionally qualified in the 1000m and is currently 20^th on the national list.  Both runners will compete in the 5000m at Gainesville.

Senior John Butler (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff) will run in the 1500m and James Tchabo (Herndon, VA/Church Farm School) is set to compete in 400m. 

A 4x400 relay team consisting exclusively of underclassmen Tchabo, freshmen Jared Davis (Englewood, NJ/Don Bosco) and Andrew Maxwell (Lemoyne, PA/Cedar Cliff) and sophomore Steven Rendall (Deptford, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) will also chase a ticket to California.

Papin will be just one of three Explorer women represented in the 5000m event with teammates senior Danielle Schopf (Glenolden, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) and sophomore Christa Plummer (Quakertown, PA/Palisades) lining up with her.

Carolyn Lipovsky (Edison, NJ/Bishop Ahr) will race in the 1500m event.

Schedule of Events:

Friday:

long jump  -  5000 meter (finals)  - 1500 (trials) -  400 meter (trials)

Saturday:

4 x 400 (finals) - 1500 meter (finals) -   400 meter (finals)