May 14, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Western Washington University's Keith Lemay (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) will participate in the men's 800 meters at the 2008 NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held May 22-24 at Walnut, Calif.

Lemay finished the season ranked 20th nationally with a provisional qualifying time of 1:52.29, established Apr. 25 at the WWU Twilight Meet. After originally missing the 19-man field by 0.02 seconds, he was added to the competition following a pair of injury withdrawals.

"This is a great opportunity for Keith," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "It's a nice reward for a senior who has been such a big part of our program the past four years. I expect him to run as well as he ever has and be very competitive."

Lemay's addition gives the Vikings a school record-setting five participants.

On Tuesday, four Western women received invitations. They are Heidi Dimmitt (Jr., Wenatchee) in the 400 hurdles, Monika Gruszecki (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale) in the javelin, Sarah Porter (Fr., Hockinson) in the 10,000 and Christy Miller (Jr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly) in the pole vault.

It will be a return trip for both Gruszecki, who is the defending national champion and the school's first automatic qualifier, and Dimmitt. Porter competed at the NCAA II Indoor Championships in the 5,000, placing 15th.