Desrochers Headed To NCAA Division III National Championships

Dracut, Mass. native ranked fifth among nation’s top weight throwers

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 6, 2012) – Senior Zach Desrochers (Dracut, Mass./Greater Lowell) will represent Fitchburg State University this week at the 2013 NCAA Track & Field Division III National Championships hosted by North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) on March 8th and 9th.

 Desrochers currently ranks fifth among all Division III throwers in the men’s weight throw, collecting his first trip to the big dance after witnessing a stellar senior campaign. The senior thrower earned a trip the NCAA Division III National Championships after registering a huge week at the DIII New England Championships hosted by Bates College in mid-February. Desrochers set his NCAA qualifying mark in the event with a throw of 19.03m, finishing second overall.

 In addition to his national accolades, Desrochers also fared well at a pair of post-season events. At the MASCAC/Alliance Championships, Zach registered a pair of top ten efforts, earning top honors in the 35 pound weight toss with a throw of 17.56 meters, while placing tenth in the shot put (12.52m). The senior thrower rounded out his post-season performances at the All-NE Championships, garnering All-New England accolades with a ninth place finish in the weight toss (17.56m) in late February.  

For each women’s individual event including the pentathlon, the top 15 declared student-athletes were accepted into the competition, while for each men’s individual event including the heptathlon, the top 13 declared student-athletes were accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, the top 10 declared relay teams, one per institution, were accepted in the competition.

The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams concluded their seasons this past weekend as members of the squads competed at the ECAC Championships at the Armory Track and Field Center.

For more information regarding the NCAA Division III National Championships or the Fitchburg State men’s and women’s track & field teams, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director, Jamie Rogers at 978-665-3726. Live coverage of the championships can be found by visiting http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2013-03-04/winter-championship-multimedia.