SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University men's and women's track and field teams are in action at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships at Widener University this weekend. Action began Thursday with the first day of the decathlon and heptathlon with full competition beginning Friday and concluding Saturday.

The Crusader men won their 14th MAC championship and second in three years in 2005 by a margin of one point over Widener and four points over third-place Elizabethtown , while the Susquehanna women placed second for the third time in the last four years behind perennial league champion Moravian.

MEN'S PREVIEW

Senior Scott Haldeman (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson) will look to win his second straight MAC titles in both the decathlon and the triple jump, and is the top seed in the triple jump with an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying mark of 14.42 meters (47 feet, 3 ¾ inches).

Haldeman, who is also seeded third in the long jump (22 feet, 3 inches) won the triple jump at the MAC indoor championships in February with a leap of 46 feet, 4 ¾ inches.

Sophomore Mike Marr (Muncy, PA/Warrior Run) won the high jump as a freshman after clearing 6 feet, 8 inches, and is among the top seeds with a best height of 6 feet, 4 ¾ inches during the 2006 outdoor season.

Sophomore Ian Horton (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville) will face stiff competition in his quest to repeat as a gold medalist from last year's championships, when he posted a winning throw of 177 feet. Horton is seeded seventh in this year's field with senior Nate Anderson (Danville, PA/Danville) seeded second at 188 feet, 3 inches.

Other top medal contenders for the Crusaders include sophomore John Calvo (Pennington, NJ/Lawrence) who is finished fourth at last year's championships and is seeded fourth this year (4 feet, 5 ¼ inches), junior Josh Smith (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) who is seeded second in the triple jump (44 feet, 11 ½ inches) and fourth along with Marr in the high jump at 6 feet, 4 ¾ inches, junior Joe Wassink (Staten Island, NY/Petrides School) who is seeded second in the 400-meter hurdles (55.60 seconds), and junior Pat Keating (Pottsville, PA/Nativity BVM) who is seeded second in the hammer throw (157 feet, 4 inches)

WOMEN'S PREVIEW

Junior All-American Emily Lepley (Lewistown, PA/Lewistown) was the outdoor championship's Most Outstanding Performer last season after sweeping the 100 and 400 hurdles and setting meet records in both events, and went on to win the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Division III championships.

Lepley, who won the 55 hurdles and the 400-meter dash at this winter's MAC indoor championships, is the top seed in the 100 hurdles (14.39 seconds) and 400 hurdles (1:02.56) and is seeded second in the 400-meter dash (58.66 seconds).

Junior Heather Matta (Holyoke, MA/Westfield ) will attempt the grueling triple of the 1500 meters, 3000-meter steeplechase and the 5000 meters. She is the top seed in both the 1500 (4:50.20) and steeplechase (11:06.20) and is seeded fifth in the 5000 meters (18:33.37).

Senior Leanne Hurtack (East Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs) is seeded second in the pole vault (10 feet, 6 inches), fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.30 seconds) and is a top contender in the hepathlon after finishing third in the event last season.

Other top contenders for the Crusaders include sophomore Sarah Burkhardt (Hoffman Estates, IL/Schaumburg), who is seeded third in the high jump (5 feet) after finishing third at last year's outdoor meet and second at this year's indoor meet, sophomore Ashley Moormann (Stanhope, NJ/Pope John XXIII) who is seeded second in the javelin (130 feet, 4 inches) and fourth in the discus (113 feet, 4 inches), senior Jacki Jensenius (Cumberland, ME/Greely), who is seeded second in the hammer throw (134 feet, 1 inch) and junior Anna Cooper (McEwensville, PA/Warrior Run) who is seeded fourth in the javelin (120 feet, 8 inches).