Nebraska Wesleyan University has 15 student-athletes who have earned the privilege to compete with the nation’s elite at the 2005 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held on Friday and Saturday in Bloomington, Ill.

“Everyone we’re taking has the chance to be an All-American,” Nebraska Wesleyan head coach Dr. Ted Bulling said.

Bulling said his men are again prepared to place among the top four teams in the nation after finishing fourth in 2004 and third in 2003.

Bret Blake is the two-time defending national champ in the 55-meter dash and he hopes to three-peat, but his fastest time of the year ranks tied for fifth entering the meet.

Amy Vanderkolk’s time in the 55-meter hurdles currently ranks second in the nation and is one of two automatic qualifying marks turned in by the Prairie Wolves this year.

The other came last Saturday, as the men’s distance medley relay broke the school record at the NCAA Qualifier hosted by Iowa State University. Aaron Dye, who also qualified for nationals in the mile, will instead anchor Nebraska Wesleyan’s DMR.

For heat sheets, meet information and a complete schedule of events on the Internet, click here.

Nebraska Wesleyan has claimed Top 10 finishes at the indoor and/or outdoor NCAA Div. III Track & Field Championships in 17 of the last 20 years for the men and in 10 of the last 16 years for the women.

The Prairie Wolves are again rated among the national leaders in the Div. III Indoor Power Rankings, released this week. The NWU men were rated No. 1 earlier in the season, but fell to second behind only the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Meanwhile, the NWU women are No. 12 in the national poll and third among teams from the Central Region. Click here to view the polls.

NWU Women’s Qualifiers:

Amy Vanderkolk (Jr., Malcolm, Neb., Malcolm H.S.), 55 hurdles, 8.17*

Holly Andrews (Fr., Seward, Neb., Seward H.S.), 55 hurdles, 8.40

Katie Dobesh (Fr., Kearney, Neb., Kearney Catholic H.S.), 55 dash, 7.25

NWU Men’s Qualifiers:

Bret Blake (Sr., Lincoln, Neb., Northeast H.S.), 55 dash, 6.43

Ryan Tietjen (Sr., DeWitt, Neb., Tri County H.S.), shot put, 55’11

Ryan Tietjen (Sr., DeWitt, Neb., Tri County H.S.), weight throw, 57’9

Derek Zulkoski (So., Columbus, Neb., Columbus H.S.), pole vault, 16’1

Tyler Gingery (Sr., Holmesville, Neb., Lewiston H.S.), triple jump, 47’3.75

Jed Droge (So., Pawnee City, Neb., Pawnee City H.S.), long jump, 23’7

Distance Medley Relay, 9:59.35*

Vince Sickler (So., Kearney, Neb., Kearney H.S.)

Ben Thayer (Jr., Sidney, Neb., Sidney H.S.)

Evan Knight (Fr., Ogallala, Neb., Ogallala H.S.)

Aaron Dye (Jr., Hebron, Neb., Thayer Central H.S.)

4x400 Relay, 3:18.54

Bret Blake (Sr., Lincoln, Neb., Northeast H.S.)

Jeff Aldrich (Jr., Seward, Neb., Seward H.S.)

Jason Peters (Fr., Lincoln, Neb., Southwest H.S.)

Chris Wolf (Fr., Ceresco, Neb., Raymond Central H.S.)

*Designates Automatic Qualifying Mark