VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds will have a strong contingent of 17 athletes at the 33rd annual NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, taking place May 23-25 in Marion, Indiana on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.

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Second-year Maria Bernard (Calgary) comes into the championships as the defending silver medalist in the 1500 metres and 4x800-metre relay. She'll be looking to reach the top of the podium in both events. In the former, she'll face stiff competition from the College of Idaho's Hillary Holt, who has already run a remarkable time of 4:11 this season. Heather Slinn (Ottawa) was sixth last year in the same event and will be looking for a podium performance this time around.

Christine Ausman (Ottawa) will be making her second appearance at the NAIA's in the women's javelin competition. Her personal best throw of 45.17m currently ranks her fourth in the NAIA.

In the sprint events, the UBC women have never been stronger and will be looking for big performances from first-year Joy Spear Chief-Morris (Lethbridge, Alta.) as well as their 4x100m relay team. Spear Chief-Morris will be running the 100m, in which she made headlines earlier this season by dipping under the twelve-second barrier. In addition, she'll compete in the 200m and run the anchor leg on the 4x100m relay team. The rest of the team will consist of Danielle Douglas (Vancouver) on the starting curve, Sarah Hughes (Calgary) running the second leg on the backstretch, and Fiona Tsun (Vancouver) on the final curve. All four women will be making their first appearance at the NAIA Championships.

The women's 800m competition will be one to watch with three Thunderbirds women in the field. Defending bronze medalist, Devan Wiebe (Vancouver) will be joined by Tamara Harris (New Westminster, B.C.) and Catharine Farish (Kingston, Ont.). Wiebe is currently ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, however her personal best time of 2:05.40 from last season would put her atop this year's NAIA rankings.

The women's marathon will feature four UBC runners, including defending bronze medalist, Sarah Reimer (Abbotsford, B.C.). She'll be joined by Lissa Zimmer (Los Gatos, Calif.), Kaylee Beales (Nanaimo, B.C.) and Madison McCarthy (Pleasanton, Calif.).

Other Thunderbirds making their NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship debuts include Julia Hawkins (West Vancouver) in the women's triple jump, Adrianne Erdman (Calgary) in the women's 3,000m steeplechase and Amelie de Fenoyl (Toronto) in the women's 5000m.

UBC COMPETITION SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Thursday, May 23, 2013
2:30 p.m. – 4x100W (Danielle,Sarah, Fiona, Joy)
3:20 p.m. – 1,500m W (Maria, Heather)
4 p.m. – javelin (Christine)
4:50 p.m. – 200m W (Joy)
5:40 p.m. – 4x800m W (Heather, Tamara, Catharine, Maria)  Devan alt.
6:50 p.m.– 3,000m s/c (Adrianne)  

Friday May 24, 2013
2 p.m. – 800m W (Devan, Tamara, Catharine)
2:50 p.m. – 100m W (Joy)
5:30 p.m. – 4x800m W (Heather, Devan, Tamara, Maria) Catharine alt.
5:30 p.m.  - triple Jump (Julia)
6:10 p.m. – 5,000m W  (Amelie)  

Saturday May 25, 2013
6 a.m. – women's marathon (Sarah, Lissa, Kaylee, Madison)
2 p.m. –  3,000m s/c W  (Adrianne)
2:40 p.m. – 4x100 W (Danielle, Sarah, Fiona, Joy)
3 p.m. – 1,500m W (Maria, Heather)
3:50 p.m. – 100m W  (Joy)
4:50 p.m. – 800m W (Devan, Tamara, Catharine)
5:10 p.m. – 200m W  (Joy)
5:30 p.m. – 5,000m W  (Amelie)