March 17, 2008

(Madison, SD) – Last Saturday, March 15th, four Dakota State track student-athletes competed in the Midland Lutheran College Half-Marathon Meet in Fremont, Nebraska.  For the second straight year, Chris Heezen and Anthony Drealan qualified to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship Meet in Men's Division Half-Marathon.  Suzanne Swett and Clarice Bauer placed in the top six at the Women's Division Half-Marathon Meet.

Heezen, senior from Miller, SD, placed second in the meet, just five seconds behind first place runner from NCAA Division I South Dakota State.  He finished with a time of 1:08:50, more than six faster than the NAIA Auto Qualifying Time to make his second straight NAIA National qualifier.  Chris is the son of Jerry and Peggy Heezen and is majoring in Exercise Science at Dakota State University.

Drealan finished fifth with a time of 1:11:56 and qualified to the NAIA Nationals for his second straight year.  Anthony is the son of Wayne and Heidi Drealan of Fulda, MN, and is a sophomore Computer Education at Dakota State University.

On the women's side, Swett placed third with a time of 1:36:21 and she was 21 seconds short of qualifying to the NAIA Nationals.  The NAIA Provisional Qualifying time is 1:36:00.  Bauer, sophomore at Dakota State, finished sixth with a time of 1:38:40.  Suzanne is the daughter of Richard and Barbara Swett of Platte, SD, and is a sophomore Business Management major at Dakota State.  Clarice is the daughter of Bruce and Karen Bauer of Madison, SD, and is majoring in Exercise Science.

The NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship Meet will be held on May 22-24, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri.  The Trojan men's and women's track and field teams will host the Trojan Invitational on March 29, 2008 at the Trojan Field.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State Sports Information Director