CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Queens University of Charlotte senior Tanya Zeferjahn (Hesperia, Calif., Hesperia High School) will be closing out her collegiate career by competing at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, this week. Zeferjahn will race the 10,000-meters on Thursday night, the same event in which she successfully defended her national title at the NCAA Division II championships in May.

 

Zeferjahn, who was recently selected as Conference Carolina's Female Athlete of the Year, enters the US championships ranked 10^th in the 25-woman field. She is the third fastest collegiate athlete in the largely professional event. The start list is topped by Nike's 2008 US Olympian Amy Begley at 31:13.78, followed by Iowa State's 10k collegiate record holder Lisa Koll at 31:18.07.

 

The 10,000-meter final in Des Moines will be Zeferjahn's last chance to break the NCAA Division II national record, which she missed earlier in the season by four seconds with her school record of 33:09.47.

 

“This may be Tanya's best opportunity for a competitive 10k yet,” said coach Scott Simmons. “With a field this large and this deep, anything can happen.”

 

It was at Stanford University's Payton Jordan Invitational in early May that Zeferjahn eclipsed the Royals' school record by nearly two minutes and just missed the NCAA record.

 

“At Payton Jordan, Tanya had to decide early on whether to stick to the pace we planned for and run by herself or to move up into a pack at a faster pace which would be risky,” Simmons said. “She made the move up and was well under 33:00-pace until the quick pace started to take its toll the last mile. Tanya was able to hold on somewhat for a big personal best, but missed the record. If the weather is good, this may be her chance.”

 

Freshman Maraya Slatter (Benson, N.C., West Johnston) was qualified to compete in the US Junior Championships held in conjunction with the meet, but had to withdraw.

 

Zeferjahn's appearance is the first for a Royals athlete in the US outdoor championships, although she gained valuable experience at the 2010 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in March. The championships are scheduled to be aired on ESPN and NBC. Please see the schedule below.

 

ESPN, June 25 8:00-10:00 pm

ESPN, June 26 1:00-2:30 pm

NBC, June 26 3:00-4:00 pm

ESPN, June 27 1:00-2:30 pm

NBC, June 27 3:00-4:00 pm