WALTHAM, Mass. — The Brandeis University women's track and field team will be sending two student-athletes to the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships this weekend at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, on May 27 to 29. Senior Suzanne Bernier of Hanson, Mass., will represent the Judges in the high jump, while junior Grayce Selig of Narberth, Pa., will compete in the 1,500-meter run. The championship meet's web site is http://www.bw.edu/athletics/10tracknationals/
Bernier is competing in the NCAA championships for the second time in 2010, having qualified indoors in the high jump as well. She finished in a tie for 13th nationally at the indoor championships in March with a height of 1.61 meters (5 feet, 3 ¼ inches). During the outdoor season, Bernier's best performance was a leap of 1.68 meters (5 feet, 8 inches). Tying her own school record set indoors, she first reached the height at University Athletic Association championships April 24 at Washington University in St. Louis, achieving her second career UAA title. Bernier matched that height a week later at the New England Division III championships at UMass Boston, finishing second at the meet on number of attempts. Bernier also placed third at the Open New England championships on May 8, when she tied with competitors from Division II American International and Division I New Hampshire with a height of 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches). Bernier is ranked fifth in Division III entering the championships, tied with 12 other competitors. She will compete at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 29.
Selig, who will compete in the 1,500-meter run, will become the first woman since Mariko Tansey Holbrook '03 in 2002-03 to reach the NCAA championships in all three seasons. Selig, who qualified for the Division III cross country championships as an individual in the fall and in the mile run and the distance medley relay at the indoor track championships, has lowered the school record in the 1,500-meter run four times this season. Most recently, at the MIT Last Chance Meet on May 21, Selig met the NCAA automatic qualifying standard for the first time this season with a mark of 4:30.81. She has shaved neatly five seconds off the previous record. Earlier this season, Selig won UAA and New England Division titles in the 1,500 while finishing ninth at the Open New England championships. She enters the NCAA championships ranked 11th in the nation and will be competing in trials on May 27 at 4:15 p.m. with an eye towards Sunday's final at 1:20 p.m.
Bernier is a 2006 graduate of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. She is the daughter of Donald and Kathleen Bernier, Hanson, Mass.
Selig is a 2007 graduate of the Springside School in Philadelphia, Pa. She is the daughter of William and Deborah Selig, Narberth, Pa.
For more information on Brandeis women's track and field, please visit our web site at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/spring/wtrack.
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