The Southern Oregon track and field team will send 16 individuals to the NAIA National Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

The group will feature 10 on the men's side and six on the women's side. The National Championships start Thursday and run through Saturday.

Junior Alex Waroff (Rogue River, Ore./Rogue River) is the highest ranked individual for the Raiders, ranking sixth in the decathlon with 6,390 points. Waroff will be making his second straight trip to the Nationals after finishing 13th last year.

“Alex is our lone returner and he has the experience,” SOU head coach Brent Ericksen said. “He's been beat up recently and it will be interesting to see how this week goes for him.”

The Raiders will once again be loaded in the distance events, with six of the 10 men competing in a distance event.

Senior Levi Roudebush (Grants Pass, Ore./North Valley) ranks ninth in the 1,500 at 3:51.55. SOU will be represented by Zach Elliott (Central Point, Ore./Crater) (13th, 31:27.51), Josh Seitz (Forest Grove, Ore./Forest Grove) (16th, 31:33.51) and Andrew Milne (Redding, Calif./Redding Adventist Academy) (18th, 31:36.62) in the 10,000. Senior Ryan Matz (Chico, Calif./Pleasant Valley) ranks 20th in the marathon (1:13:26.94) and junior James Johnstone (Lake Arrowhead, Calif./Rim of the World) ranks 27th in the steeplechase (9:28.83).

“James has a good chance to make a big impact in the steeplechase,” Ericksen said. “This is his first year running it and every race he's run faster.”

Also for the SOU men, Dennis Olstedt (Seaside, Ore./Seaside) will compete in the 400 hurdles (13th, 53.79) and Seth Lindquist (Boring, Ore./Damascus Christian) will compete in the triple jump (22nd, 46-00.)

“Dennis is peaking at the right time,” Ericksen said. “Like James, he keeps getting faster and I wouldn't be surprised if he made it to the finals.”

On the women's side, five of the six individuals will take part in distance events. Junior Kelly Clark (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel) is the highest ranking individual on the women's side with a sixth place ranking in the race walk (25:52.74).

“This has been a surprise event for her,” Ericksen said. “She didn't have plans to do it and once she started practicing it became her primary event.”

Junior Kristen Juveland (Central Point, Ore./Crater) (27th, 38:25.84), Anya Martinez (Central Point, Ore./Crater) (31st, 38:44.42) and Laurie Stoutenburgh (Central Point, Ore./Crater) (33rd, 38:49.06) will all run in the 10,000 and junior Tara Krempley (Sherwood, Ore./Sherwood) (25th, 11:35.18) will run in the steeplechase.

Freshman Holly Haga (Central Point, Ore. /Crater) will make her first trip to the Nationals with her No. 23 ranking in the discus (140-10).