Track & Field | 5/12/2015 10:49:00 AM

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Three members of Western Oregon University's track & field teams will be heading to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships later this month in Allendale, Michigan.

Junior Justin Larson will be making his third straight appearance at the national championship meet, while the freshman duo of Sheila Limas De La Cruz and Amanda Short will be making their inaugural appearance on the national stage. All three Wolves will be competing in the javelin throw.

"I am really happy that we got three quality student-athletes into the national championship meet," said Head Coach Mike Johnson. "This was a tough field to get into and all three of these athletes worked hard enough throughout the season to earn their spot. This will be an exciting championship all-around."

Larson, who currently ranks sixth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), is coming off a ninth place finish nationally last season as a sophomore after registering a mark of 62.14 meters (203-10). Among the top throwers in all NCAA Division II, Larson ranks 18th overall after registering a lifetime best mark of 63.12 meters (207-1) at the John Knight Twilight in mid-April.

Limas De La Cruz, who currently ranks fourth in the GNAC, posted a lifetime best throw of 44.04 meter (144-6) at last weekend's GNAC Outdoor Championships to moved into the Top 20 nationally. Among the top throwers in Division II, Limas De La Cruz ranks 16th overall.

Short, who currently ranks third in the GNAC, also posted a lifetime best throw of 44.12 meters (144-9) at the past weekend's GNAC Outdoor Championships to improve her place nationally. Among the top javelin throwers in all NCAA Division II, Short ranks just ahead of Limas De La Cruz at 15th overall.

Larson is one of five GNAC throwers in the event, as he joins Alaska Anchorage's Franz Burghagen, UAA's Cody Parker, Western Washington's John Haskin, and WWU's Slater Hirst. At last weekend's GNAC Outdoor Championships in Monmouth, the quartet finished first, second, fourth, and fifth, respectively, with Larson posting a seventh place finish.

Meanwhile, Limas De La Cruz and Short are joined at the national championship by fellow GNAC competitor Katie Reichart of Western Washington, who finished second at last week's GNAC Outdoor Championships en route to joining Short on the all-conference team for the javelin throw.

This is the second time in the past three years that Western Oregon has sent three javelin throwers to nationals, as former Wolves Amanda Schumaker and Seabre Church along with Larson competed at the 2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place May 21-23 at Grand Valley State University's Track & Field Stadium in Allendale, Michigan. On the final day of competition – Saturday, May 23 – is when the javelin throw will take place, as the women's event will begin the day at 11 AM (EST) followed by the men's event at 2:15 PM (EST).