March 4, 2009

DAYTON, Ohio - University of Dayton track and field team members Ashley Cattran and Johnna Zaccari are two of 10 student-athletes to be named to the Atlantic 10 Women's Indoor Track & Field Academic All-Conference Team, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

First-Team selection and three-time A-10 Performer of the Week Ashley Cattran won gold in the 800 meter (2:11.78) and was a member of 4x800 relay team that finished second with a season-best time of 9:13.06 at the 2009 A-10 Indoor Championship.

She bested her 800 meter time five times during the indoor season, recording a new school record at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championship last weekend. After running her lowest time of the season on Saturday, Cattran stands on the cusp of a sure-fire berth into the NCAA Championships. She currently ranks 19th on the NCAA performance list and has provisionally qualified for the season-end meet.

Cattran boasts the highest GPA (3.98) on the team as a pre-med major. She is also a member of the Dean's List and A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Sophomore Johnna Zaccari, also a first team selection, won gold in the shot put at the A-10 Indoor Championship with a school-record throw of 45-11.25. It's the second year in a row she has taken the title.

Zaccari holds four of the top five best throws of the season by a Dayton Flyer.

Zaccari hold a 3.76 GPA as a marketing major. She is also a member of the Dean's List and A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

A trio of UD athletes will compete this weekend at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational. Cattran, freshman Courtney Siebenaller and sophomore Mallory Barnes are scheduled to make the trip in an effort to better their personal best marks for the NCAA Championships, which will be held on March 13 and 14 at Texas A&M. The rest of the team is currently in the midst of a mid-season break, but will hit the track again at the University of Cincinnati's Early Bird Relays on March 21.