Fredonia senior Nicole Desens (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington) has qualified for the NCAA Divsiion III Outdoor Track & Field championship meet in the women's discus.
Desens is ranked 19th in a field of 22 in the event, which will be contested starting 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at St. Lawrence University. The top nine throwers will advance to finals later Thursday, and the top eight will earn All-American status.
The qualifying throw by Desens of 43.99 meters -- a personal-best, which converts to 144 feet, 4 inches -- came at the St. John Fisher Cardinal Classic on April 25.
Her best throw in the shot put this season of 13.20 meters (43 feet, 3.75 inches) ranks 28th in the nation, six places short of qualifying for nationals in the event. In addition, sophomore Laura Morrison (Weathersfield, Conn./Wethersfield) missed qualifying by one second in the women's 800 meters. Morrison's career-best and season-best time of 2:12.35 ranks 32nd nationally.
A four-year member of the women's track & field program, Desens will be completing her collegiate career at nationals. She will also be the last Fredonia student-athlete in competition during the 2014-15 school year. The women's lacrosse season ended Sunday with an NCAA quarterfinal loss to Franklin and Marshall.
