For the first time since 1993, Knox College will host the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on campus. The two-day event is May 9-10 on Turner Track at Trevor Field in the heart of campus.

Knox was the host school for the 2003 championships, but the event was held in Monmouth.

"As a first-year head coach, this is a huge honor to host the conference championships," said Knox co-head coach Dan Zierfuss. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as a coach to showcase our facilities and provide an appropriate competitive atmosphere for the meet. This will also give the conference a first-hand look at our facility."

"It's a great opportunity for the Knox community to come out and support their track & field team, and it's a wonderful chance for our athletes to compete at home this weekend," said Prairie Fire co-head coach Patrick Irwin. "We train at this facility all season long, so hopefully the comfort and familiarity will serve as added motivation to come out and compete well in front of the home crowd."

Knox will showcase Turner Track at Trevor Field (pictured, left), one of the few outdoor purple running tracks in the country. The facility recently underwent an $800,000 renovation that expanded the 400-meter track from six to eight lanes, enabling Knox to host major events, such as the Midwest Conference Championships.

Also as part of the renovation, the spaces dedicated for events including the high jump, long jump/triple jump, javelin, shot put, pole vault, and discus/hammer were relocated and enhanced. A steeple chase pit was added to the west end of the track. The track was formally dedicated at a ceremony on October 12, 2006.

The original field and six-lane running track were created in 1961 and named in honor of former Knox College Coach and Athletic Director Dean S. Trevor.

A group of alumni raised funds to name the track after Harold C. Turner, a long-time and valuable member of Dean Trevor's athletic staff. During his 25-year tenure as coach and professor of physical education from 1938-63, Turner won four Midwest Conference Championships - 1952 track and field, 1957 swimming, 1939 and 1950 football. At the time of his retirment in 1963, Coach Turner was the only coach in the Midwest Athletic Conference to have won conference championships in three sports.

The 2008 MWC Championships will begin Friday, May 9, with the women's hammer throw at 11 a.m. Saturday's events get underway at 9 a.m. with the men's hammer throw. The complete schedule is below.

More information on the 2008 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships is available on the MWC website.

Friday, May 9, Schedule
11 a.m.	Hammer	Women
1 p.m.	Shot Put	Men
	Long Jump	Men/Women
	Pole Vault	Women/Men
	High Jump	Women
	Discus	Women
2 p.m.	1,500m (Finals-Sections)	Women/Men
2:15 p.m.	10,000m (Finals)	Women
3:15 p.m.	Javelin	Men
	10,000m (Finals)	Men
4:15 p.m.	100m Hurdles (Trials)	Women
	110m Hurdles (Trials)	Men
4:45 p.m.	400m (Trials)	Women/Men
5:10 p.m.	100m (Trials)	Women/Men
5:40 p.m.	400m Hurdles (Trials)	Women/Men
6 p.m.	200m (Trials)	Women/Men
Saturday, May 10, Schedule
9 a.m.	Hammer	Men
11 a.m.	Shot Put	Women
	Triple Jump	Women/Men
	High Jump	Men
	Discus	Men
12:15 p.m.	4x100 Relay (Finals-Sections)	Women/Men
12:30 p.m.	3,000m Steeplechase (Finals)	Women/Men
1 p.m.	Javelin	Women
1:20 p.m.	100m Hurdles (Finals)	Women
	110m Hurdles (Finals)	Men
1:35 p.m.	400m (Finals)	Women/Men
1:45 p.m.	100m (Finals)	Women/Men
1:55 p.m.	800m (Finals-Sections)	Women/Men
2:20 p.m.	400m Hurdles (Finals)	Women/Men
2:35 p.m.	200m (Finals)	Women/Men
2:45 p.m.	5,000m (Finals)	Women/Men
3:25 p.m.	4x400 Relay (Finals-Sections)	Women/Men