MAY 12, 2009--Bellarmine University track and field athletes competed at meets hosted by the University of Tennessee and Indiana University recently to help improve their chances at qualifying for the NCAA finals.

On May 5, a contingent of men's track and field athletes competed at the Smoky Mountain Twilight Meet hosted by Tennessee. Jason Thornsberry won the 3,000 meter steeplechase, but couldn't improve on his season's best time of 9:25.3. That time, recorded at Eastern Kentucky's meet, places Thornsberry in the No. 32 spot in the national NCAA Division II performance list.

Elliot Mattingly was second in the discus, but his throw of 46.14 meters was still short of his NCAA provisional throw of 48.93, which ranks 34th on the national performance list.

Another Bellarmine highlight from the Smoky Mountain Meet was freshman Dominique McGinnis (pictured), who set a Bellarmine freshman record in the 200 meters with his time of 22.79.

On May 8, a number of athletes also competed at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana. While none of the men's competitors could improve on their provisional marks, Kristen Geiger set a new Bellarmine record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with her time of 11:10.07, which places her 27th on the NCAA Division II performance list.

Katie Hickey, who did not compete at Indiana, is on the national list in two events. In the 1500 meters, she is at No. 15, based on her 4:31.88 time at the Stan Lyons Invitational in April. And, Hickey ranks 37th nationally in the 5,000 meters with her 17:32.3 time at the Long Beach Invitational.