WALTHAM, Mass. - Two members of the Brandeis University outdoor track and field teams will represent the Judges at the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field championships this weekend at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. Sophomore Paul Norton of Amherst, Mass., will run in his second national championship, while junior Beth Pisarik of Chelmsford, Mass., is making her first appearance at nationals. Overall, they are the first two Judges to qualify for the outdoor championships since 2005.
Norton, who was a member of the Judges' NCAA-qualifying cross country team in the fall, earned his first individual berth in the championships in the 10,000-meter run. He qualified on April 10 at the Bison Classic held at Division I Bucknell University. His time of 30:31.82, good for ninth place on that date, was the 15th-fastest in Division III this season. Norton finished 39th at the cross country championships. Norton, who also competed in the 5,000-meter run this season, earned All-University Athletic Association by placing third at the conference championships on April 26 and All-New England honors by taking fourth at the Open New England championships on May 9.
Pisarik earned her berth at the NCAA championships in the 1,500-meter run. She qualified in her last possible meet, the ECAC Division III Championships at Springfield College on May 15. Her lifetime-best 4:36.22 was good for second place at the ECAC meet and is ranked 14th nationally headed into the championships. Pisarik also earned All-UAA accolades this season with a runner-up performance and All-New England Division III recognition by finishing third.
Norton is a 2007 graduate of Amherst Regional High School. He is the son of David and Claire Norton, Amherst, Mass.
Pisarik is a 2006 graduate of Chelmsford High School. She is the daughter of Kristopher and Jennifer Pisarik of Chelmsford, Mass.
For more information on Brandeis track and field, please visit our web sites at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/spring/mtrack or http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/spring/wtrack.
Follow the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships from Marietta College at http://pioneers.marietta.edu/track/09championships/