INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The NCAA announced its final selections for this weekend’s 2008 Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at Ohio Northern University that included three Buffalo State athletes, Mario Hicks (Corning/ Corning West), Latoya D. Edwards (Brooklyn/ Clara Barton) and Lavonne Barfield (Rochester/ Wilson Magnet).

Hicks, a senior English major, will look to repeat as an All-American in the 55-meter hurdles after finishing second in the event a year ago. The two-time SUNYAC and State champion is currently ranked tied for sixth of 11 competitors selected with a season best time of 7.60 seconds. The prelims will be held Friday at 5:35 p.m. and the finals will be Saturday at 2:55 p.m.

Edwards, a sophomore majoring in health and wellness, enters the meet tied for fourth of 14 runners in the 55-meter dash with a season-best time of 7.17 seconds. She finished ninth in the event at nationals last season as a rookie. Edwards is the two-time defending SUNYAC and State champion in the event and is the reining SUNYAC Runner of the Year. The prelims will be held Friday at 6:35 p.m. and the finals will be Saturday at 3:45 p.m.

Barfield is a junior communication major and will compete in the long jump. She enters the meet ranked tied for 10th of 13 with a season best jump covering 5.48 meters. Barfield won the SUNYAC and State titles in the long jump this season and qualified for the outdoor nationals in the event last year. The long jump competition will take place on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

The 2008 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships will webcast both days of competition, March 14-15th. The webcast will be aired on www.ncaa.com.