Missouri State University

July 6, 2012

GUANAJUATO, Mexico -- The Missouri State track & field program will be represented by two freshman sensations when they wear the colors of their respective nations at the 2012 North American, Central American and Caribbean Under 23 Championships, which get underway here July 6-8.

The meet is the last opportunity to qualify for the 2012 Olympic games, which begin July 27 in London.

Althia Maximilien (Bridgetown, Barbados), who won the 400-meter dash at the Barbados National Championships two weeks ago, will compete in the 400-meter dash in Mexico as well as the 4x400-meter relay for her home country this weekend. Her career-best time in the 400 is 53.07 which placed her 19th at the NCAA Division I nationals in Des Moines on June 6. She will need to achieve a 52.35 in the 400-meter dash in Mexico to meet the Olympic B Standard and 51.55 to meet the A cut.  

The NCAA All-America honorable mention sprinter earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in the 400, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay this season.

St. Lucia native Merica Moncherry (Micoud, St. Lucia), another NCAA qualifier for the Bears this season, is coming off a 200-meter dash victory in her home country's national championships (24.11). She will compete in both the 100- and 200-meter dash events at the NACAC U23 meet with an opportunity to qualify for the London Olympics. Her top 100-meter time this season is 11.76, while her top 200-meter effort is 23.81. She needs an 11.38 to meet the Olympic B standard and 11.29 to make the A standard. She would also need a 23.30 and 23.10, respectively, in the 200.

Moncherry was All-MVC in the 100- and 200-meter dashes during the 2012 outdoor campaign, as well as all-league in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Follow the 2012 NACAC meet on-line at Facebook.com/nacac2012 or on Twitter @nacac2012.