EDWARDSVILLE, IL -- Indiana Tech junior Alissa McKaig won her second NAIA National Championship in record time. McKaig set the new NAIA Outdoor Track Championship record in the women's 10,000-meter run with a time of 34:22.95, more than 2 seconds faster than the previous record set in 1992.

McKaig battled to hold off second place finisher Caroline Karunde of Wayland Baptist. After three lead changes in the race, McKaig beat Karunde by less than 2 seconds.

McKaig, a Michigan State transfer who graduated from Concordia High School in Fort Wayne, also won the 5,000-meter event at the indoor track national championships in March.

Three other Tech runners competed in event finals during the first day of the championship. Freshman Kara Van Horn finished 12^th in the women's 10,000-meter run with a 37:16.35 time. In the men's 10,000-meter event, freshman Matt Ditzler finished 18^th with a time of 32:16.87 and freshman Daniel Neidlinger finished 19^th in 32:.21.09. Freshman Dina Petridis pole vaulted to a 12^th place finish clearing 3.3 meters.

In other day one events, several other Tech athletes competed in preliminaries and qualified to advance. Senior Rod Waters qualified in the preliminaries for both the men's 110-meter hurdles (2^nd best time of 14.22) and in the 400-meter hurdles. Freshmen Camron Walter and John Wainwright both qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with times of 9:18.26 and 9:24.02 respectively. Junior Brett Tipton qualified in the 800-meter run in 1:54.61. Freshman Alyssa Webb advanced in the 1,500 -meter run in a time of 4:48.43. Sophomore Kesonn Lee advanced in the 100-meter dash prelims with a time of 10.84, and he also will compete in the finals of the 200-meter dash.

Indiana Tech is in its first year for track and field and sent 21 student-athletes to the NAIA Outdoor Track National Championship to compete in 19 events. The event is being held at the University of Southern Illinois in Edwardsville, Ill..

For complete event results, visit the NAIA outdoor track championship Web page.