HOUSTON – Junior Chris Edelman (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) qualified for tomorrow’s 400 meter final and the men’s distance medley relay team earned All-American status as the Lock Haven University men’s and women’s track & field team kicked off competition today the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Houston.

Edelman clocked a 49.11 to qualify for the ninth and final spot in tomorrow’s 400 meter final.

The Haven foursome of Nathan Zondlo (Avoca, Pa./Pittston Area), Chris Jones (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln), Ben McConnell (Danville, Pa./Danville) and Nick Hilton (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) finished sixth overall in the DMR with at time of 10:11.70 to take home All-American honors.

LHU co-head coach Aaron Russell was very pleased with his athletes today.

“It was a great way for us to kick off the national championship meet,” Russell said. “I was proud really proud of the relay considering how young they are with two freshmen and a sophomore.

He also noted Edelman’s solid qualifyig performance saying that nobody was fazed by the pressure of the big meet today.

Russell is very much looking forward to continued success tomorrow.

Lock Haven resumes action tomorrow in the Lone Star state. Edelman will be action tomorrow in the 400 finals, as will be three-time NCAA runner-up Chelsea Morse (Beaver Dams, N.Y./Campbell-Savona) in the women’s high jump, along with the Bald Eagles 4x400 meter relay team.

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