The University of Northern Iowa track & field teams will be sending 17 athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in a total of 13 events, according to the list of accepted entries released by the NCAA today. This marks the largest group of NCAA qualifiers for UNI since the transition to the new championships format in 2010.

This year's West Preliminary Rounds will be held in Austin, Texas, on May 24-26.

UNI's qualifiers on the men's side include Justin Romero (shot put), Jordan Williams (discus, shot put), Tanner Hurt (hammer throw), Sam Kranz (pole vault), Daniel Gooris (pole vault), Aaron Stockstell (800m), Justin Baker (shot put), Jarred Herring (100m), Adam McDonnell (javelin, hammer throw), Sebastian Barth (110m hurdles), and the 4x100m relay team of Carlos Anderson, Derek Kramer, Wilmot Wellington and Herring.

On the women's side, UNI will be represented by Olimpia Nowak (100m hurdles, 400m hurdles), Traci Harms (hammer throw), Jenna Wexter (pole vault) and Paige Knodle (100m hurdles).

In addition, Nowak and Gooris have locked up spots in the heptathlon and decathlon, respectively, at the NCAA Outdoor Championships being held in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 6-9. The multi-events do not compete at the Preliminary Rounds, instead advancing the top 24 scores in the nation directly to the Outdoor Championships. Nowak holds the 10th-best mark in the nation heading into the Outdoor Championships, and Gooris ranks 15th in the country.

For each individual event contested at each of the Championship Preliminary Round sites, the top 48 declared student-athletes are accepted into the competition. For each relay event, the top 24 declared relay teams are accepted.

Qualifying to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is accomplished through performance in the Preliminary Round competition at each site. Twelve competitors from each individual event and a minimum of eight teams from each relay event advance from each Preliminary Round site to the Final Championship Meet.

Jacksonville, Fla., and Austin, Texas, will host the 2012 NCAA Division I Track and Field East and West Preliminary Rounds, respectively. Both sites will host competition May 24-26. The 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Athlete                              Event                             West Region Ranking

Olimpia Nowak                  Heptathlon                       10 (national rank)

Justin Romero                     Shot Put                          10

Jordan Williams                  Discus                             11

Jordan Williams                  Shot Put                          14

Tanner Hurt                        Hammer Throw               14

Daniel Gooris                     Decathlon                        15 (national rank)

UNI                                   4x100m Relay                 16

Sam Kranz                         Pole Vault                       23

Olimpia Nowak                  400m Hurdles                  25

Olimpia Nowak                  100m Hurdles                  27

Daniel Gooris                     Pole Vault                       31

Aaron Stockstell                 800m                              32

Jarred Herring                    100m                              33

Adam McDonnell               Javelin                             34

Sebastian Barth                  110m Hurdles                  34

Traci Harms                       Hammer Throw               36

Justin Baker                        Shot Put                          36

Adam McDonnell               Hammer Throw               38

Paige Knodle                      400m Hurdles                  38

Jenna Wexter                     Pole Vault                       42