CLINTON, Iowa - Although classes on the Ashford University campus have been dismissed for nearly two weeks, five members of the track and field program have their eyes set towards the 2010 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

The national meet begins tomorrow and will wrap up on Saturday.

"I expect us to compete at the level higher than what we have been throughout the season," said AU Head Coach Chris Adams. "You go to meets like this to compete with the best and that's what I expect us to do. We got some experience at the NAIA Indoor meet, now I'd like to see us step to the line with a little more confidence."

For senior Franklin Barnes of Chicago, the national meet will be the final time in a storied career that he will don the black speedsuit carrying the Saints logo.

Barnes, a four-time National qualifier and 11-time MCC Champion, qualified for nationals and won the 400-hurdles during the Midwest Collegiate Conference Outdoor Championships. With only one more meet left, Barnes isn't going to go out without a fight.

"I'm telling myself that this is my very last time that I will ever compete at this stage of competition," said Barnes. "I always like to end things competitively and on a good note, and I do not allow myself to settle for less. I plan to go and compete for this ‘last time' and compete to the hardest and best of my ability."

The remaining four qualifiers are all underclassmen, a feat that Adams is proud of.

"It's a great way for these student-athletes to begin their careers. They're setting the bar for their teammates, both present and future, and for themselves."

Fresh off a victory in the high jump at the MCCs, sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., returns to the national spotlight after qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Championships in the same event. Smith, who comes into the meet with a season-best jump of 2.02 meters (6'6"), is currently ranked 22nd overall.

Freshman hurdler Christian Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., will look to cap off an unprecedented first year when he hits the track for the 110-meter hurdles. Awah joined Smith at the NAIA Indoor Championships earlier this year, where he placed 14th overall and has the 19th fastest time in the event thus far in the NAIA.

Freshman Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., was the final Saint to qualify, as his time of 27.12.03 in the 5,000-meter racewalk at the McKendree University Last Chance meet earlier this month earned him a trip to Marion, where he sits in 15th place nationally.

"We look for Aleks to do the best that he can," said AU assistant coach Tyson Graham. "We are excited he qualified because we were hoping for Aleks to qualify next year, but he set his goals for this year and kept improving each time out."

Freshman long jumper Sarah Wenzel of Clinton is the lone member of the women's program to travel to the national meet, qualifying with a ‘B' standard of 5.53 meters (18'1"). She joins Jakobsen as first-time national-meet qualifiers, and is ranked 16th overall.

The 2010 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships begin with men's decathlon on Thursday morning, and Ashford's first event will be at 1:00 p.m. when Awah lines up for the 110-meter hurdle semi-finals. AshfordAthletics.com will provide full daily recaps from the national meet.

There will also be three live webcams streaming action from all three days of competitions, courtesy of Indiana Wesleyan University athletics website. The link can be found by accessing the NAIA website or by clicking here.