Nebraska Wesleyan University will have three athletes competing at the 2013 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be held on March 8-9 at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. Two women and one men’s athlete have qualified for the track & field championships for the Prairie Wolves at the Al B. Carius Track in Naperville.

Senior Deanna Dirkschneider (North Bend, Neb.) has qualified for the second year in a row in the women’s shot put. Dirkschneider, who is a two-time All-American in the outdoor shot put, placed 10th at the 2012 NCAA III Championships in the shot put. She has a season-best throw of 45-8, which ranks 10th in NCAA III this season and ranks third all-time at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Senior Taylor Tacha (Bertrand, Neb.) will be making her third appearance at the NCAA Indoor championships in the 60 hurdles. Tacha will be going for her first All-American honor as a senior this season in the hurdles. She has a time of 8.86 this season, ranking seventh in the country heading into the championships. She is now third on the all-time charts at NWU with her time of 8.86.

For the Nebraska Wesleyan men, sophomore Tommie Bardsley (Beatrice, Neb.) is making his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Indoor Nationals in the men’s high jump. Bardsley enters the competition tied for the 11th highest jump with his mark of 6-9. Last season, Bardsley finished 13th at the NCAA Indoor Championships and was the National Runner-up at the 2012 Outdoor Championships.

NWU Qualifiers

Men

Tommie Bardsley, So., Beatrice, Neb. (Beatrice) – High Jump

Women

Deanna Dirkschneider, Sr., North Bend, Neb. (North Bend) – Shot Put

Taylor Tacha, Sr., Bertrand, Neb. (Bertrand) – 60 Hurdles

NWU Schedule of Events