Spartans Qualify for NCAA Championships

AURORA, Ill. May 19, 2009 - Aurora University men’s track and field throwers, junior Adrian Kibiersza (DesPlaines, IL/Maine West H.S.) and senior Tom Sroka (Justice, IL/Argo H.S.) qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division III Track and Field Outdoor National Championships. The outdoor championships will be held Thursday through Saturday, May 21-23, at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

For Kibiersza, it marks the third consecutive season qualifying. Both Kibiersza and Sroka reached the 2009 NCAA Division III Track and Field Indoor National Championships. In the Indoor Championships, Sroka and Kibiersza both earned 2009 Division III Men’s Indoor Track and Field All-American honors following their respective performances.

Sroka earned his Indoor All-American honors in both the weight throw and shot put at the Championships. He finished fifth in the weight throw with a throw of 17.37 meters (57' 0") and eighth in the shot put with a throw of 15.94 meters (52' 3.75"). Kibiersza earned his All-American honors in the shot put at the Championships. He finished fourth in the shot put with a school record throw of 16.46 meters (54' 0").

Kibiersza will compete at the national meet in both the discus and the shot put, while Sroka will compete in the shot put. They will join 26 student-athletes in the discus and 30 in the shot put event. The NCAA Division III qualifying mark in the discus was at 48.39m (158’9”) and the qualifying mark in the shot put was 15.72m (51’7”).

"We are excited and proud of Adrian and Tom on their qualifying onto nationals for the second time this season and reaching another milestone for our track and field program. Their performances this season have been extraordinary and we look forward to seeing him compete against the best division III throwers in the country,” AU Track and Field Head Coach Ryan Chapman said.

Kibiersza’s qualifying mark in the discus came at the North Central College Gregory Invitational on Thursday, May 14. Kibiersza finished third in the event with a school record throw of 50.82m (166'09"). He qualified for the shot put on Saturday, May 2, at the Northern Athletics Conference Championships. He won the shot put with a conference record throw of 15.92m (52’2.75”).

Sroka used his last meet, the Augustana College Last Chance meet, to qualify for the NCAA Championships. He won the shot put with a school record throw of 16.09 meters (52’ 9.5”)

Kibiersza and Sroka will be in action at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Outdoor National Championships on Friday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the discus and on Saturday, May 23, at noon in the shot put. The meet will be at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

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