LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s indoor track & field is set to take part in the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Houston, Texas.

The championship:

This year’s National Championships are part of the NCAA D-II Winter Festival in the Lone Star state. The track & field competition will be held at the University’s of Houston’s Yeomen Fieldhouse. Action kicks off Friday, March 13 at 9 a.m. CDT and runs until Saturday evening.

Haven’s traveling well:

The 2009 indoor championships will see Lock Haven’s largest contingent ever competing at the NCAA Indoor track & field championships and it marks the first time a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team has qualified two relay teams for the indoor championship meet. The Bald and Lady Eagles each have one athlete qualified individually and The Haven men will be represented in two relay events.

Individual qualifiers:

Senior Chelsea Morse (Beaver Dams, N.Y./Campbell-Savona)

Morse, a three time All-American will compete in the women’s high jump. She has finished as runner-up in the high jump in the last three National Championship meets (Outdoor-Indoor-Outdoor). Morse recently took first at the PSAC Championship meet. She enters the NCAA Championships with a mark of 5-7.

Junior Chris Edelman (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts)

Edelman, the 2009 PSAC Indoor 400 meter champion will make his first appearance at a NCAA Championship meet and is looking for big things. He’s been sensational all year and could also be a key on both of Lock Haven’s relay squads that will be looking to reach All-American status.

The relays:

Distance Medley relay (DMR)

LHU has clocked a 9:59.93 earlier in the season.

1,200 meter lead off leg – Freshman Nathan Zondlo (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area)

400 meter leg – *Edelman or alternate depending on how he does in the 400 meter dash prelims on Friday morning

800 meter leg- Senior Ben McConnell (Danville, Pa./Danville)

Mile – anchor leg – Nick Hilton (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township)

4x400 meter relay (4x4)

Lock Haven’s 4x4 clocked 3:16.10 earlier in the season and is coming off a PSAC Championship. Competing on The Haven’s relay in Houston will be four of the five.

- Edelman

- McConnell

- Freshman Kevin Moore (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley)

- Freshman Steve Roberts (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown)

- Freshman Chris Jones (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln)

Where they rank nationally heading in:

The Bald Eagles finished the season ranked No. 15 in the NCAA D-II Power Rankings

The Lady Eagles finished the season ranked No. 17 in the NCAA D-II Power Rankings

Morse – women’s high jump: 5-7, 17th

Edelman – men’s 400 meter dash: 48.64, 13th

DMR – 9:59.93, ninth

4x4 – 3:16.10, 11th

Lock Haven’s schedule:

Friday: Men’s 400 meter prelims 4:45 p.m. CDT (Finals on Saturday)

Friday: Men’s DMR 7:25 p.m. CDT

Saturday: Women’s high jump 2:35 p.m. CDT

Saturday: Men’s 4x4 6:25 p.m. CDT

*Houston is the Central Time Zone (one hour behind EST)

Visit the official championships site at