May 24, 2002

LAS VEGAS - Four UNLV women's track and field athletes have qualified for the 2002 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 29-June 1 at Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Juniors Michele Davis (Lansing, Mich.) and Nickeisha Charles (Arima, Trinidad) both made final qualifications for national title contention in the 400 meters with a seed time of 52.81 seconds, the 15th best time nationally this season.

Davis also made qualifications for the 200 meters with the ninth fastest time in the nation of 23.12 seconds. In 2000, Davis came close to a national individual title in the 200 with a fourth-place finish, receiving NCAA All-American honors. The top eight finishers at NCAAs earn All-American status.

Davis and Charles will also team up with sophomore Christine Spence (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and junior Chantel Yates (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in the 4x400 meter relay. The Rebels' top relay squad qualified with a seed time of 3:34.47, the 10th best time nationally in the event. Freshman Tiffany Sims-McCray (Houston, Texas) will travel to NCAAs as a relay team alternate.

Not since 1997, has UNLV sent a relay team (4x100) to the outdoor national championships. In 1994, the 4x400 meter relay team made up of Rebel All-Americans Judy Fraser, Latasha Prothro, Cheryl Allen and Jean Fletcher finished in fifth with a school record time of 3:32.21. Last year, former distance runner Katie Barto was the lone NCAA qualifier, placing 21st in the 1,500 meters.

This is the sixth consecutive year in which the Rebels have qualified individuals for the national meet with 80 NCAA All-American honorees all-time since 1975. UNLV coach Karen Dennis has guided her student-athletes to NCAA competition (indoor and outdoor) seven out of the last 10 seasons.

2002 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships
May 29-June 1, 2002
at Baton Rouge, La.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, May 29
6:55 p.m. - Women's 200 Meters, Preliminaries

Thursday, May 30
4:45 p.m. - Women's 400 Meters, Preliminaries
6:35 p.m. - Women's 4x400 Meter Relay, Preliminaries

Saturday, June 1
5:30 p.m. - Women's 400 Meters, Final
6:30 p.m. - Women's 200 Meters, Final
7:35 p.m. - Women's 4x400 Meter Relay, Final

All Times Pacific Standard Time (PST)