MARIETTA, Ohio — The goal of any serious student-athlete is to win a NCAA championship.

Marietta College sophomores #Mike Pankowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills)#, #Kim Keesler (Chagrin Falls/Chagrin Falls)# and #Brittany Sims (Columbus/Eastmoor Academy)# are one step closer to accomplishing that feat after earning the opportunity to represent the Pioneers at the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship, which will take place May 27-29 on the campus of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

For the second straight season, Marietta had nine student-athletes qualify for the NCAA's outdoor championship. It is the first time in school history that the Pioneers will have three representatives at a national track and field championship after two participated in the 2009 event, which was hosted by the Marietta at Don Schaly Stadium.

"We feel blessed to have three athletes going to the championships on one of the most difficult years to qualify," seventh-year Head Coach Derek Stanley said. "The quality of the field is exceptional and it is a testament to their hard work."

Stanley has helped revive the Pioneers' track and field program, which has now produced 23 national qualifiers since he took over in January of 2004. In addition, all four student-athletes that have competed in the national championship have earned All-America honors in their respective event. Marietta's three 2010 participants will look to extend that streak.

"With the most individuals at the championship in the history of the program, I feel we are starting to exhibit some depth at the national level. It's a credit to our athlete's work ethic and drive of the coaching staff."

Pankowski, the school record holder and reigning Ohio Athletic Conference champion, enters the 2010 NCAA Championship ranked 13th in the Javelin Throw. He unleashed a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 61.67m (202-04) at the 2010 OAC Championship on April 30.

"Pankowski is a great competitor, and this meet will bring the best out of him," Stanley said.

Pankowski will compete against 15 other entrants in the Javelin Throw beginning Friday at 1 p.m.

Keesler earned an automatic berth into the national championship after her school record performance in the Pole Vault at the OAC Outdoor Championship. She won the event with a mark of 3.86m (12-08.00).

"Kim is our first automatic qualifier and has a good chance to do well in the pole vault," Stanley said.

Keesler, who is ranked seventh in the national field of 20 athletes, will also compete Thursday at 1 p.m.

Sims, the 2010 OAC runner-up, qualified for the NCAA championship at the Duke Twilight Meet on May 9. She crossed the line in a school record 1:03.88.

"Brittany has been waiting to explode onto the national scene in the 400 hurdles and this is her first opportunity," Stanley said.

Sims is ranked ninth out of the 19 participants in the 400m Hurdles. Preliminary heats of the event will begin Thursday at 5 p.m. The finals are set for Saturday at 3:15 p.m.

For more information on the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship, visit the official site at http://www.bw.edu/athletics/10tracknationals/.