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Warrior track athletes set to soar at Nationals
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Caleb Monticalvo will be looking to get on another podium by the end of this week as he and four of his Warrior teammates are getting set for the big stage.

Monticalvo, the CCAA champion in the pole vault, will arrive in Pueblo with the nation's eighth best height of 16 feet, six inches - giving him a solid chance to get to the podium as an All-American finisher at this week's NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The three-day event, May 24-26, is hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl.

Monticalvo, and teammate Kyle Maxwell who will also be competing in the pole vault, will be looking to continue the Cal State Stanislaus tradition in the event. Most recently, Kasey Burlingham was a two-time All-American in the event (2009 and 2010) and the 2009 national champion.

While the goal was to obviously win the championship, athletes finishing in the top-eight would receive an All-American award.

Another Warrior ranked in the top 10 heading into the championships is Terrance Ellis. Ellis set a new Stanislaus and Warrior Stadium record on May 11 in the 800-meter run in a time of 1:50.59, which ranks seventh in Division II.

Fellow distance runner Dawson Vorderbruegge will compete in the 1500-meter run. His fastest time this year was 3:48.69, also clocked at the CSUS Twilight Qualifier on May 11.

Abdullah Dosu will be the first Warrior, men or women, to compete in the championship meet as he takes his leaps in the long jump beginning on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Mountain time.

Six members of the Cal State Stanislaus women's track and field team will be representing the Red and Gold as they participate in the 2012 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Sian Morgan is the Warriors' best chance of a national championship as the CCAA champion in pole vault takes her seasonal best height of 12 feet, 11 1/2 inches to the meet. Morgan, who reached that mark on May 11 at the CSUS Twilight, ranks third.

Morgan could become the ninth Warrior All-American in the event (by finishing in the top 8) in the last nine years. The last time a Stanislaus female won a national title was Chaunte Mitchell, who did it twice (2004 and 2005).

Also making her first appearance at the NCAA Championships is distance runner Courtney Anderson. Anderson had earned her spot as an automatic qualifier when she clocked 10:32.83 at the Stanford Invitational on April 6.

Four of the fastest women on the Stanislaus team will be competing as a unit in the 4x400-meter relays. The group of Christian Matthews, Derrhea McLiechey, Chavariana Ryan and Misha Strong, improved their season best time and set a new school record at the Twilight Qualifier. Their 3:45.25 time ranks 10th among the field of 13 teams.

Fans will be able to watch live action from Pueblo online at NCAA.com