March 8, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Kiani Profit and Dwight Barbiasz will represent the University of Maryland this weekend at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Texas A&M University.

Profit and Barbiasz won their respective events two weeks ago at the Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor Championships. Profit set a school record with a score of 4,250 points in the pentathlon, while Barbiasz won the men's high jump at 7 feet, 2.25 inches.

"Kiani and Dwight are going into the NCAA competition with a championship mentality. They are ready to peak at the right time and I think this weekend could show some breakout performances," said head coach Andrew Valmon, who last month learned he would be the men's head coach for Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics.

Profit finished second in the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships last year, earning All-America status. She scored 4,242 points, a mark which stood as the school record until she broke it at this year's ACCs.

Earlier this week, Profit was named by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association as the Women's Field Athlete of the Year indoors in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

She went more than two feet past her previous best in the shot put at the ACC meet and blistered the field with a 2:10.81 clocking in the 800. Profit comes into this year's NCAA meet seeded third behind Oregon junior Brianne Theisen (4,507) and Nebraska junior Chantae McMillan (4,378).

"We have already seen the determination of Profit as she continues to compete at an elite level," said Valmon. "I have no doubt that she will go into the championships with the goal of finishing her senior indoor season on top."

Barbiasz has a season-best of 7-3.25, set when he won the Virginia Tech Elite meet in early February. He earned All-America status in the high jump indoors at the 2009 NCAA Nationals when he tied for third (7-0.25). He is seeded 10th among invitees for this year's NCAAs.

"Barbiasz has made a strong comeback from his injury of last season, and he is looking sharp heading into this last indoor competition," said Valmon.

The women's pentathlon will begin on Friday at 11 a.m. EST, while the men's high jump will be at 5:15 p.m. EST on Saturday.

In addition to Profit's regional award, Barbiasz and assistant coach Frank Costello were nominated for regional awards through USTFCCCA for the indoor season.

ESPN3.com will stream live portions of the event with NCAA.com/aggieathletics.com streaming the remainder. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 10th: 10 a.m.-3:55 p.m. CST (NCAA.com/aggieathletics.com)/3:55 p.m.-8:40 p.m. CST (ESPN3)
Saturday, March 11: Noon-4:55 p.m. CST (NCAA.com/aggieathletics.com)/5 p.m.-7:50 p.m. CST (ESPN3)

The 2011 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships will air on a tape-delay on Wednesday, March 16 from 2:30 - 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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