CLEMSON, S.C.. - The first events in the heptathlon and decathlon opened the first day of the 13th Atlantic Sun Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Clemson's Rock Norman Track and Field Complex will serve as the venue.

Championship Preview

Winners of the last two A-Sun Championships, the Jacksonville women enter the 2008 event looking to equal the accomplishments of its indoor team, which won its third consecutive title in March. Junior Natasha Harvey leads the Dolphins, coming off of a bronze medal performance in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championship. In the outdoor campaign, Harvey owns the conference's second-best time in the 200-meter dash (23.99), the fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles (13.50) and has the best leap in the long jump at 21-02.00 (6.45m). Harvey’s teammate, junior Shaquania Lundy recorded an A-Sun-best effort with a triple jump of 41-05.00 (12.62m) this season and the conference's second-best effort in the long jump at 41-5 (12.62m).

After defeating ETSU at the 2008 Men's Indoor Championship, Kennesaw State enters the Outdoor Championship with seven top performances during the season, more than any other men's squad. The Owls own the top spots on the track in the 400-meter dash (James Verdi, 48.01), 800-meter run (Gianni Catalano, 1:51.81), 3,000-meter steeplechase (Scott Burley, 9:31.21) and 4x400 (3:15.11). In the field, Jerome McKinzie had the season’s best high jump at 6-11 3/4 (2.13m). Also, Joshua McNair had the best shot put at 52-4 1/4 (15.96m) discuss throw 169-10 (51.77m) and hammer throw 180-09 (55.09m).

Several teams will fight Jacksonville to loosen its grip on A-Sun women's track and field.

The ETSU Lady Buccaneers hold three of the top four spots this season in the 100-meter dash and they have the A- Sun's fastest time in the 400-meter relay (45.60). Belmont boasts a great sprinter as well in Lynette Rives, who won the 200 in 2007 and placed second in the 100. This year, she turned in the A-Sun's fastest times in both the 100 (11.71) and 200 (23.62), reaching regional qualifying marks in both.

UNF brings two of the top field performers to the 2008 Championship in Emily Kohler and Amy Stroder. Kohler won the award for Most Outstanding Field Performer in 2006 and registered 2008's best heave in the javelin throw at 142-05 (43.41m) and has the third-best high jump and long jump. Stroder claims the best high jump 05-08 3/4 (1.75m) and enters the Championship tied for first with the most total points in the heptathlon (4,620). Gardner-Webb's Elizabeth Maxwell is the defending Most Outstanding Field Performer, notching the A-Sun's top effort in the discuss with a fling of 133-2 (40.59m) and in the hammer throw with a toss of 161-4 (49.17m).

For the men, the likes of Campbell, ETSU, Belmont and Gardner-Webb look to be in close competition with the Owls throughout the Championship.

The trio of Harold Sims, Sam Tilly and Greg Dunston lead the Campbell men into this year's Outdoor Championship. Sims, the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the Indoor Championship, didn't let up into the outdoor season. He posted the A-Sun's best efforts in the 110 hurdles (14.32), the 400-meter hurdles (52.19) and ran the second-fastest time in the 400 (48.74). Tilly joined Sims with an award at the Indoor Championship, earning the Most Outstanding Field Performer honor. He owns the best long jump in the conference this season, with a leap of 24-07 (7.49m).

The defending-champion on the men's side, the ETSU Buccaneers, go to Clemson after a second place finish at the Indoor Championship denied them a third-straight A-Sun title. The strength of the Bucs’ team lies in their sprinters, namely Duronal Monal. The sophomore recorded the fastest and second-fastest time s in the conference in the 200 (21.55) and 100 (10.59), respectively. The Bucs’ 4x100-meter relay team has the conference's best time by over one second at 41.20. In 2007, the Bucs swept the gold and silver-medal honors in both the 100 and 200.

Belmont aims to make some noise in the standing with a strong long-distance contingent, led by two-time Atlantic Sun Championship Most Outstanding Track Performer, Kipkosgei Magut. He claims the conference's best time in the 1,500-meter run (3:54.78) as the Bruins also claim the top times in the 3,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run. Gardner-Webb boasts the top performers in the javelin throw (Jerel Langley), pole vault (Jeremy Longshore) and the decathlon (Evan Brusich).

Atlantic Sun Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week

Gianni Catalano, KSU (Fr. - Mid-Distance - Undeclared - Amherst, Ohio) - Ran a 1:52.58 in the 800 meters at the Clemson Purple and Orange Classic to place first in the event.

Atlantic Sun Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week

Laura Phillips, JU (Fr. - Thrower - Education - St. Augustine, Fla.) - Broke the school record in the hammer throw by over three feet with a toss of 32-06.00 (40.39m) at the UCF Invitational. She now has the second furthest discus throw in the conference this season.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.