CALGARY, Alberta, Canada and KINGSTON, Jamaica -  Two Nicholls State University women's track and field athletes will compete for a spot on their national track and field teams this June as senior distance runner Jessica McLeod and freshman javelin thrower Jaimee Springer respectively compete at the 2011 Jamaican and Canadian National Track and Field Championships later this month.

Springer, an All-Southland Conference honoree and an NCAA National Championship East Regional qualifier, will compete in both the junior and senior national meets which will take place in Calgary, Alberta from June 22-25.  Springer qualified for the national meet by recording a personal record throw of 44.71 m (146 ft. 8.0 in.) at the Cole Lancoln Twilight meet at UL-Lafayette in April.  Springer's throw met the qualifying standard for the Canadian national meet and ranked her second in the javelin among all Canadian juniors.

Springer, who will compete in both the junior and senior fields at the national meet, can earn a chance to represent Team Canada at both the 2011 Pan American Games October 14-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico and the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea Aug. 27-Sept. 4, by meeting the qualifying 'A' standard for each meet and finishing in the top-three in Calgary.

While Springer competes in Calgary, McLeod heads to Kingston for the Jamaican National Championships.  The Colonels' middle-distance specialist owns the school record in the 1500 m with a time of 4:33.54, set at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays this past April and meeting Jamaica's qualifying stadards for the national championship meet. 

In a nation traditionally deep in sprinters but lacking dominant mid-distance runners, McLeod will hope a strong enough showing in the 1500 m at the Jamaican national championships will earn her a spot on the Jamaican national team at the Pan American Games and the IAAF World Championships.

"We are really excited that Jaimee and Jess will be getting the opportunity to compete in their native countries with the chance represent Team Canada or Team Jamaica at future championship meets this summer," head coach Scott Williamson said. "This opportunity is a culmination of the hard work and dedication that they showed this entire year while representing Nicholls State. This is the highest level of competition in the sport of track and field and we wish them the best of luck."