UVU campus briefs

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Utah Valley University will be part of the 16-team field for the 2010 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament, it was announced Tuesday.

The Wolverines are coming off of their run of five straight wins to end the 2009-10 season, which netted UVU the Great West tournament championship in March. The Preseason WNIT bracket will be announced in June.

"We're excited and feel like this invitation represents not only our past success but where our program is going in the future," said head coach Cathy Nixon, who will enter her 16th season this fall. "It's a compliment to what the girls have achieved and is something to prepare for and look forward to this upcoming season." The Preseason WNIT field includes seven teams that won their conference tournaments in 2010: Austin Peay, Hampton, JMU, Lamar, South Dakota State, St. Francis PA, and Utah Valley. Other teams that also earned postseason play are Charlotte, DePaul, Florida, Iona, Missouri State, Purdue, and Toledo. Central Florida and Valparaiso round out the field for this year's Preseason WNIT.

The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 12-13 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 14-15; semifinals will be Nov. 17-18; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 21.

Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 19-20. All games are hosted by participating schools, and sites are announced by the end of the preceding round.

YOUTH BASKETBALL: Utah Valley University men's basketball coach Dick Hunsaker announced that he will be holding his annual Individual Skills Basketball Camp June 21-25, at the UVU Events Center in Orem.

Hunsaker's Individual Skills Camp is recognized as an outstanding teaching camp in the state of Utah. At the camp, participants will learn basketball fundamentals such as: shooting, free throw shooting, ball handling, passing, defense, and individual offensive skills.

Ages 7-17 are invited to participate. The cost to participate is $235, and it will run from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day. Late registration will take place at the main entrance of the UVU Events Center Monday, June 21, between 8:15-9:00 a.m. A number of Wolverine basketball players past and present will be there. Last year, current Utah Jazz point guard and former UVU-star Ronnie Price appeared at the camp and assisted in teaching skills to campers.

"Coach Hunsaker's camps have helped me become the player that I am today," Former Wolverine-standout and current European professional basketball player Ryan Toolson said. "There is no one that can teach the fundamentals of basketball better than he can. If you take basketball seriously then Coach Hunsaker's camp is the place for you."

For more information call 801-863-8670. You may also visit www.WolverineGreen.com for more details.

TRACK AND FIELD: Six Utah Valley University track & field athletes will get the chance of a lifetime opportunity -- to advance to the NCAA Championships -- this weekend in Austin, Texas, as they have earned themselves a spot to compete in eight total events at the 2010 NCAA West Regional. The three-day competition will take place at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium and will feature some of the nation's premier student-athletes.

The 2010 NCAA West Preliminary Round Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place this Thursday, May 27-Saturday, May 29, beginning at 12 p.m.. CT each day. For a complete schedule of events visit NCAA.com

"We are excited for the athletes that get this opportunity," UVU head coach Scott Houle said. "It has been a long time coming since UVU decided to make the jump to Division-I to be eligible for the NCAA's. It is going to be very exciting for them as athletes, us as a program, and for the university as a whole. It will be very big for us to be there this year."

Four of the athletes that qualified are on the men's team. Freshman distance runner Trac Norris and freshman sprinter Allah Laryea-Akrong will each compete in more than one event for UVU, as Norris qualified for three and Laryea-Akrong two. Norris will compete in the 800, 1500, and 3000-meter steeplechase as Laryea-Akrong will look to make it the NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

Sophomore Tim Rowberry also qualified for UVU in the 800-meter run, as he and Norris will both be striving to finish in the top 12 of the same event. Sophomore thrower Cody Olsen will also represent the Wolverines in the men's javelin throw at the NCAA preliminary round.

On the women's side distance-star junior Mary Nothum punched her ticket to the regional in the 10,000-meter run. Sophomore thrower McKell Camp rounds out the list of qualifiers, as she will compete in the women's javelin throw.

Olsen will be UVU's first competitor of the regional, as he will take part in the opening event, the men's javelin at 11 a.m. MT.

Tickets are available now by visiting TexasBoxOffice.com or by calling 512-471-3333. Tickets can be purchased at the Myers Stadium Box Office beginning at 10 a.m. each day of competition. The preliminary meet will be streamed live online each day, visit WolverineGreen.com for links to watch the video.

The top 12 performers, in both the men's and the women's meets, from each of the two preliminary round sites will advance to compete at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12.

UVU's Athletes Competing on Thursday:

Cody Olsen, Men's Javelin at 11 a.m. (Qualifying) {All times listed in MT}

Trac Norris, Men's 1500m run at 3:30 p.m. (First Round)

McKell Camp, Women's Javelin at 4:30 p.m. (Qualifying)

Allah Laryea-Akrong, Men's 100m dash at 4:30 p.m. (First Round)

Trac Norris and Tim Rowberry, Men's 800m run at 6:30 p.m. (First Round)

Mary Nothum, Women's 10,000m run at 8:15 p.m. (Semifinal)

UVU's Athletes Competing on Friday:

Allah Laryea-Akrong, Men's 100m dash at 5 p.m. (Quarterfinal)

Trac Norris and Tim Rowberry, Men's 800m run at 5:30 p.m. (Quarterfinal)

Allah Laryea-Akrong, Men's 200m dash at 6:30 p.m. (First Round)

Trac Norris, Men's 3000m steeplechase at 7:30 p.m. (Quarterfinal)