NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's and women's outdoor track program will send nine runners to the NCAA Championship East Preliminary hosted by the University of North Florida. Five men and four women will represent the Maroon & Gold in Jacksonville, FL this upcoming weekend.

Senior Heidi Gregson kicks off Gael harriers in action at North Florida in the 1,500-meter first round heats. Gregson qualified for the event by running a 4:21.55 at the Mt. SAC Relays on Apr. 19. It was the third fastest career 1500 time for the Iona record holder in the event.

With a strong performance in the first round, Gregson looks to advance to Saturday's quarterfinal.

Senior Alexander Soderberg and junior Craig Murphy compete in the 10,000-meter semifinal Thursday night. Soderberg qualified for the NCAA Championship with his career best 29:09.35 at the Stanford Invitational on Apr. 6. The time ranks No. 7 in the East this outdoor season and 21st overall nationally. Murphy clocked a personal best 29:37.55 at the Penn Relays on Apr. 26. The time ranks No. 28 in the East in 2012.

The two competitors look to advance to the NCAA 10k Championship final at Drake University from Jun. 6-9.

Juniors Hollie Rowland and Marion Joly-Testault represent the Gaels in the women's 10,000-meter semifinal to conclude Thursday's action. Rowland qualified with a 34:28.25 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on Apr. 29. It was the second fastest time in school history and 25th fastest time in the East this year. Joly-Testault's qualifying time was 35:00.76 at the Mt. SAC Relays on Apr. 19. The mark ranks as the third fastest time in school history and 30th fastest in the East in 2012.

Like their counterparts on the men's side, the two competitors look to advance to the NCAA 10k Championship final at Drake University from Jun. 6-9.

Freshman Regina Neumeyer qualified for the 3,000-meter steeple chase with her school record time of 10:19.85 at the Stanford Invitational on Apr. 6. The mark shattered the previous Iona record by nearly 14 seconds. Neumeyer's time was the 25th best in the East this season and 44th best nationally.

The semifinal round will take place in two weeks at the NCAA Championships at Drake University.

Three runners close out Iona's participation in the NCAA Championship East Preliminaries on Saturday night. Junior Mitch Goose ran the sixth fastest 5k time in the NCAA this season (third in the East) in qualifying for this weekend's event. His 13:34.41 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on Apr. 29 broke a school record. Rookies Jake Byrne and Andrew Kowalsky will make their NCAA Championship debuts. Byrne set an Iona rookie record with his qualifying time of 14:01.99 set at the Penn Relays on Apr. 26. It was the 27th fastest time in the East this season. Kowalsky ran a 14:07.57 in a third place performance at the IC4A Championship on May 11.

The final round will be run in two weeks at the NCAA Championships at Drake.