SLIPPERY ROCK - John Papa has fond memories of 1987.

It marked his first year as Slippery Rock University head men's and women's track and field coach. It marked his first two PSAC team championships in the sport.

And it marked the last time SRU hosted the conference's championship meet.

"That's because our graduation weekend always coincided with the PSAC meet," Papa said. "We couldn't possibly host both events the same weekend.

"This is the first time since 1987 we haven't had graduation the same weekend as the PSAC meet."

SRU's graduation was last weekend. The Rock is hosting the PSAC meet this weekend, with events scheduled Thursday through Saturday.

Papa has coached 11 PSAC championship teams and has coached 55 All-Americans during his 17 years as The Rock's track and field coach.

One of those All-Americans will lead his women's team into competition this weekend. Two-time All-American javelin thrower Karyn McCready set a school and PSAC record with a throw of 155 feet, 10 inches at the Campbell-Wright Open hosted by the University of Akron (Ohio) last weekend.

"Karyn's the only member of either one of our teams who has hit an automatic qualifying standard for the national meet," Papa said.

The Division II nationals are May 27 through 29 in Walnut, Calif.

SRU athletes set three other school records in Akron. Hurdler Andi Rose ran the 100-meter hurdles in 14.13 seconds, breaking the conference record and running the third-fastest time in that event in all of Division II this year.

The Rock's 400-meter women's relay of Butler graduate Jill Rekich, Janice Rash, Rose and Kristin Jones ran a 47.42, setting school and PSAC records.

On the men's side, Ben Steingrabe ran the 110-meter hurdles in 14.31 for a school record. He is the top seeded in that event in the PSAC meet.

SRU's women enter the meet as its defending champion. Papa expects plenty of competition from Shippensburg, Lock Haven and Kutztown.

"They're the other top teams," he said. "But if our women do what they're capable of doing, there's a real possibility we could finish on top."

Rose has the fastest time in the PSAC in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:01.78. The second-fastest time belongs to SRU's Melissa Sopher - a Slippery Rock High graduate - at 1:02.97.

Rekich is seeded fifth at 1:03.89.

The Rock also has the two top qualifiers in the pole vault in Raissa Weiss (11 feet, 6 inches) and Jen Mehall (11-0).

Rock sophomore and Seneca Valley graduate Jenna Gostkowski has qualified for the meet in the 800 and 1,500 meters. SRU junior and Butler graduate Katrina Peters is ranked No. 13 in the heptathlon, which runs Thursday.

SRU's men have not won the PSAC title since 2000 and are not picked among the contenders this year. Shippensburg, Lock Haven and Kutztown are considered the favorites.

But Papa won't rule out his squad.

"They give trophies to the first- and second-place teams and our goal is to get one of those trophies," he said.

If it happens, Steingrabe will lead the way. He is seeded No. 2 in the 200 meters, may run the 100 and anchors SRU's top-seeded 400 relay unit of Gerald Christian, Shayne Cooper and Seth Little.

"We're counting heavily on Ben," Papa said.

Kurt Thompson is top-seeded in the pole vault with a height of 15-11, a provisional qualifying mark for nationals. The Rock has four of the top six seeds in the 110 hurdles, including Butler graduate Aaron Rekich, who is fifth at 14.97.

Slippery Rock High graduate and Rock sophomore Andrew Raisley qualified for the meet in the 400 hurdles. Grove City High graduate and SRU junior Bill Jordan is seeded fourth in the decathlon.

Jordan placed second in the PSAC pentathlon during the indoor season.