BOONE, NC — Coastal Carolina University junior Amber Campbell picked up right where she left off at the end of the 2001 track and field season. The two-time All-American qualified in the 20-pound weight throw for the 2002 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships this past week at the Appalachian State Invitational.

Campbell, who did not qualify for the 2001 Indoor Championships until a last chance meet late in the season, not only reached the automatic qualifying mark, but she did so on all four throws. She set a personal best, CCU record, and the Big South Conference record with her top throw of 68'1.75" (20.77 meters). This throw topped the NCAA's automatic mark of 63'11.50" (19.50 meters) and would have placed her third in the 2001 NCAA Championships in this event.

"We felt that we had to get her to an early season meet after what she did at our intrasquad meet a week ago," said Head Coach Alan Connie. "She threw far enough to win last year's NCAA title in our intrasquad meet, so we decided to get her in this meet in order for her to qualify early and get that weight off of her shoulders for the rest of the season."

The 2001 NCAA Champion in the weight throw won with a heave of 21.29 meters. Campbell, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, tossed the 20-pound implement 21.44 meters in CCU's intrasquad challenge on December 1.

By the way, Campbell also won the shot put event at the Appalachian Invitational with a throw of 42'0.75" (12.83 meters).

The 2002 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held March 8-9 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.