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2003 NCAA INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2003 NCAA Championships return to Fayetteville, Ark. and the Randal Tyson Track Center. The Rice women were the WACs highest finisher last season, taking fifth with 25 points. Owl senior, Allison Beckford, looks to defend her 400 meter title, setting a WAC record time of 52.16 in 2002. On the mens side, UTEP was 15th, SMU was 23rd, while Rice was 35th a year ago. SMUs distance trio of Dalibor Balgac, Martin Allgeyer and Mindi Pukstas will lead the Mustangs.

There are four NCAA automatic qualifiers this season. For the men, Pukstas recorded a itme of 13:45.10 in the 5,000 meters at the Arkansas Invitational. On the womens side, Beckford assured herself of a chance to defend her 2002 Indoor 400 meter title, posting a time of 52.34 at the Iowa State Classic. Nvenna Lendel of SMU cleared the high-jump bar at 1.84m at the Houston Invitational. Fellow Mustang, Zivile Pukstiene had a triple-jump mark of 13.33m at the WAC Championship, giving her the conference title.

The complete list of NCAA qualifiers can be found on the following Web sites:
Men's - http://members.aol.com/rpodkam/d1mindF.txt,
Women's - http://members.aol.com/rpodkam/d1windF.txt.

The information on these sites is maintained by the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee.

For more information regarding the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships, go to www.ncaachampionships.com.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
Men
Taiwo Ajibade, UTEP, 60 Meters, 6.67
Dalibor Balgac, SMU, 3,000 Meters, 7:55.24
Mindi Pukstas, SMU, 3,000 Meters, 7:59.06
Mindi Pukstas, SMU, 5,000 Meters, 13:45.10
SMU, Distance Medley, 9:36.80
Henderston Dottin, UTEP, High Jump, 2.23m
Einar Hjartarsorn, SMU, High Jump, 2.23m
Gerardo Carrasco, UTEP, Triple Jump, 15.94
Hannes Hopley, SMU, Shot Put, 18.99m

Women
Allison Beckford, Rice, 400 Meters, 52.34
UTEP, 4x400 Meters, 3:38.10
LaVada Hill, SMU, Long Jump, 6.34m
Nvenna Lendel, SMU, High Jump, 1.84m
Zivile Pukstiene, SMU, Triple Jump, 13.33m

2003 WAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Nevada women and the SMU men take home the 2003 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field crowns, earning 127.5 and 147 points, respectively. Finishing in second place for the men was Rice with 139 points, followed by defending champion, UTEP (116.5), Boise State (92), Fresno State (80.5), Louisiana Tech (44) and Tulsa (39). For the women, Rice earned runner-up honors with 120 points, while UTEP (93), SMU (80), Louisiana Tech (71), Tulsa (62), Fresno State (53), Boise State (43.5) and Hawaii (10) round out the womens side.

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS
There were seven mens and three womens championship who successfully defended their titles from 2002.
Men
Ryan Harlan, Rice, 60-Meter Hurdles
Ray Ardill, Boise State, 400 meters
Adam Davis, Rice, 800 meters
Rice, 4x400 Meter Relay
Russell Weaver, Fresno State, Pole Vault
Janne Vartia, UTEP, 35lb. Weight Throw
Ryan Harlan, Rice, Pentathlon (4x)

Women
Allison Beckford, Rice, 400 meters (4x)
Corine van Beek, UTEP, Mile
Erin Kelly, Nevada, Pentathlon

4x-fourth-straight season

TRACKWIRE POLL - The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualfying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.

The factors used to build the D12 include quantitative values that measure performances in past major competitions (such as conference championships, national championships and Olympic competition), durability and freedom from injuries, demonstrated ability to compete well in multiple rounds of competition, ability in other events, head-to-head competition with other top athletes, and personal or seasonal bests.