June 18, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio -  University of Dayton track and field student-athletes Mallory Barnes and Johnna Zaccari are set to compete in the 2008 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend at Ohio State University. Barnes, who set a new program record in the weight throw earlier this year, will vie in the hammer throw, while fellow teammate and Atlantic 10 shot put gold medalist Zaccari will be a contender in the shot put throw.

Both Barnes and Zaccari are coming off successful freshmen campaigns and have been major contributors to the team in their first year in a Flyer uniform, helping Dayton's track team to its best-ever finishes (second place) in both the Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Mallory Barnes set a school record in the weight throw (56-10.0) at the DePauw Invite earning a first place finish early on in the season. She finished third in the event at the A-10 Indoor Championship and holds two of the best throws of the season for a Flyer. During the outdoor portion of the schedule, she notched a personal best in the hammer throw (158-07) and placed fifth at the A-10 Championship (156-06).

A-10 First Team selection Johnna Zaccari won gold in the shot put at the A-10 Indoor Championship with a career best toss of 46-04.25. She also earned the Conference's Performer of the Week for her first place finish at the Coastal Carolina Invitational (44-05.50) on March 17 and took second place in the league's outdoor championship meet with a throw of 45-07.25. Zaccari was only second to fellow teammate, Sarah Allen, who captured the A-10 outdoor title. She finished in first place four times during the year and holds eight of the top 10 best throws on the team.

For more information on this weekend's meet visit www.USATF.org.