CSU-Pueblo preps for more than 600 athletes from 118 Division II teams

Nikki McNorton, 21, a high jumper from Tarleton State University stretches in the endzone of the football field at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl at CSU-Pueblo Tuesday. McNorton and teammate, Jeff Smith, a hurdler, are in town to compete in the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships which begin Thursday at CSU-Pueblo.

PUEBLO, Colo. - The NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field meet begins Thursday in Pueblo.

One look at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl today might make visitors think someone jumped the gun.

The venue, playing host to the event this year and next, has been the center of organized chaos for days.

Teams and individuals are allowed to use the facilities today to work out and train.

“So far, the preparations have gone as smooth as you could expect,” CSU-Pueblo associate athletic director Jeremy Capo said. “There have been a few bumps, but nothing horrible. It should go off without a hitch.”

More than 600 athletes, representing 118 Division II schools, will compete over the next three days.

Capo said that more than 200 volunteers have signed up to help with the event.

He singled out former CSU-Pueblo women's basketball coach Misty Murphy, the volunteer coordinator, as someone who has made a difference.

“She's handled all the requests and cancellations and everything else,” Capo said. “People like Misty Murphy are why this event will be a success.”

CSU-Pueblo women's track coach Chad Perry said many athletes will use the facilities today to get acclimated to their surroundings, as well as the altitidue.

Competition begins Thursday.

GET TO THE POINT

Pack women's basketball coach Kip Drown announced the signing of point guard Jenay Locke to his recruiting class.

She is a 5-foot-6 guard from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. Locke helped lead Mesa to a fifth-place finish nationally in the NJCAA tournament. She averaged 5.9 points, 4.3 assists per game and 1.9steals per game. Locke will be asked to contribute immediately as only one starter, junior Alex Evans, returns in the backcourt.

“There is certainly an opening at the guard positions and we envision Jenay fitting nicely at the one (guard) position,” Pack coach Kip Drown said.

Locke is part of a recruiting class that includes Pueblo West High School senior Dee Arrieta and forward Megan White from Texas.

A-TRAIN ROLLING

CSU-Pueblo's Anthony Sandstrom was selected as the top sports information director in the RMAC over the past school year.

This is the first time that the school's media relations office has been so honored.

Sandstrom said that his office benefited from the dedication of his workers, which are student employees and interns. They were Parker Bickel, Garrett Finke, Joe Foley, Doug Kenyon, Lynnea Phillips, Colby Thompson, Paul Tyler and Karlee Weiler.

Longtime public address announcer Dave Miller also contributed.

The office is responsible for all content posted on the athletics as well the department's social mediapresence. Also, the office establishes and maintains media relations with local, regional and national media organizations and game-day operations for 16 NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics programs.

BIG JUMP

According to the RMAC all-sports competition rankings, CSU-Pueblo made the biggest jump of any of the 14 member schools in 2011-12.

CSU-Pueblo finished fifth this year, bumping up four spots from ninth a year ago.

Conference titles in football and women's golf contributed to the rise.

The school's highest ranking was second, accomplished twice, in 19

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