Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Westfield State University senior Amanda Gricus (Marion, Mass.) and junior Tom Gauger (Billerica, Mass.) have qualified for the NCAA Division III indoor track and field national championships on March 9-10 at Grinnell Collegein Iowa.

Gricus is making her second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Division III national championships; she just missing earning All-America honors last season by placing ninth in the 20-pound weight throw. Gauger, the Owls’ standout pole vaulter, is competing in the nationals finals for the first time.

Gricus and Gauger are both seeded sixth for the national championships.  There are 15 competitors in the 20-pound weight and 13 pole vault competitors.

“I am confident Amanda and Tom will represent Westfield State University well at the national championships,” said Westfield veteran head coach Sean O’Brien. “Amanda has been to nationals before so she will not be overwhelmed by the atmosphere and she will be ready to compete. Tom has improved steadily this season and he has already competed in some big meets this year – the New England Division III, All-New England and ECACchampionships.”

Gricus and Gauger have both shattered school records this season.  Gricus is ranked sixth with a throw of 17.88 meters (58 feet, 8 inches). Gauger has re-set the school record almost every weekend and has bettered his vaulting by two feet this season. At last weekend’s ECAC championships, he cleared 5.01 meters (16 feet, 5 ¼ inches).

The weight throw and pole vault finals are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. CST, respectively, on Friday.