Meet Notes | Schedule of Events | Women's Entry List

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Hampton University senior Francena McCorory will look to defend her national championship in the 400-meter dash in the 2010 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, held Friday and Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

McCorory posted the seventh-best time in the nation this season, running a 52.83 in the 400-meter dash at the Armory New Balance Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 6 to finish second in that event. Texas A&M's Jessica Beard, who finished second in the race last season, holds this year's best time at 51.15.

She is the defending indoor champion in this event, after running a school-record 51.54 on March 14, 2009 in College State, Texas to give Hampton its third NCAA track & field championship.

Former Lady Pirate Yvette Lewis holds the other two; she won the indoor triple jump title in 2006, before following that with an outdoor triple jump title in 2007.

Most recently, McCorory (Hampton, Va.) was named the Most Outstanding Runner at the 2010 MEAC Indoor Championships, tallying 27.5 points on Feb. 12-13 in Landover, Md. McCorory won the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.92, while also taking the 200-meter dash title in 24.37. She also led the 4x400-meter relay team to the gold with a time of 3:48.01, and ran a 7.55 in the 60-meter dash to finish fourth.

McCorory was a First Team All-MEAC selection in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay. She is also a reigning U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American in the indoor 400-meter dash.

Portions of the meet will be broadcast live via web stream on ESPN360.com on Friday at 9 p.m. EST and Saturday at 7:10 p.m. EST. NCAA.com will also offer supplemental coverage, and ESPN2 will air a 90-minute, tape-delayed broadcast on Wednesday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m.

For more information on Hampton University track & field, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.