SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga track and field will be sending it's largest-ever contingent to the NCAA West Preliminary Championships this year. Troy Fraley, Maggie Jones, Willie Milam, Jessica Mildes, Shelby Mills, and Andy Phillips will all be competing in Austin, Texas, from May 28-30.

The meet, hosted by the University of Texas at Mike A. Myers Stadium, released the top-48 declared student-athletes in each event Thursday. The East region will be held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. The top 12 competitors from each individual event at the region meets qualify for the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 10-13, in Eugene, Ore.

"Six athletes in," Gonzaga Director of Track Pat Tyson said. "This is such a great billboard for our program! I'm so proud of our men and women runners. All the hard work is paying off. We certainly have a nice group representing Gonzaga, and our largest ever! "

In the program's young existence, Gonzaga has gone from its first qualifier, Emily Thomas, in 2012, to a trio of qualifiers in 2013, to Milam and Nick Roche last season, to this year's six. Thomas, Lindsey Drake and Brent Felnagle represented the Zags in Austin in 2013.

"What is important to note is that our whole program is buying into excellence," Tyson said. "They say success breeds success and that is such a true statement. We will go to Austin and wear the Gonzaga jersey with pride. I couldn't be more proud of Patty Ley and assistant coaches, Michael Dunn and Rachel Jaten!"

In her first season with the Bulldogs, Mildes enters the NCAA West Preliminaries with the highest seed. The junior transfer from Spokane Falls Community College is seeded 10^th in the 10,000-meter women's field. She broke the program record at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 33:40.82, the 20^th-fastest time in the nation, on April 3. Two weeks later, the Chattaroy, Wash., native set a new 5,000-meter record at 16:16.88.

Mills will be making the trip to Austin as 14^th seed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The sophomore shattered the previous school record by nearly 30 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays. Her time is currently 49th in the country.

Jones is the 39^th-seed in the 5,000 meters. She ran a 16:27.86 at the Oregon Relays on April 17. She sits third on the GU all-time list.

"This is definitely the largest contingent we have ever had and the most accomplished as well," Gonzaga women's Head Coach Patty Ley said. "It has been a goal of the program to get athletes to regionals, then to improve seeds at regionals, and then to be in a place to compete for a spot to nationals. We are now in the position to do that. It is really gratifying to work with athletes who we have bought in and who have the discipline and drive to work for this. None of these young women were ‘superstars' coming out of high school, but all have bought in to the idea of pursuing the best they can be. It is most exciting that all of these ladies are returning next year as well. Now it is about staying focused on the process that got them to this point and continuing that in this new environment. We are looking forward to next week!"

On the men's side, Fraley enters seeded 34^th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The sophomore's time of 8:56.23 broke the school record at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on April 3. Milam returns to the 5,000-meter field at the NCAA West Preliminaries. The senior broke the program record at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 13:53.74, which is seeded 26^th in Austin. He also set a new 10,000-meter school record at the Mt. SAC Relays this season.

With just hours left in the qualifying window for the postseason, Phillips punched his ticket to the postseason in dramatic fashion at the Portland Twilight Sunday. The senior not only qualified, he broke the Gonzaga 1,500-meter program record. His time of 3:43.90 edged out the previous record, 3:45.73, set by Milam last season. Phillips is seeded 26^th in the west prelims.

Looking at Gonzaga history's at the NCAA West Preliminaries, Drake finished 22^nd in the 5,000 meters, while Felnagle, the first Gonzaga male to qualify for the event, came in 42^nd in the 1,500. Thomas placed 19^th in the 10,000 meters, after finished 24^th in 2012. Last season in Fayetteville, Ark., Roche was 39^th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Milam was 18^th in the 5,000 meters.

Gonzaga's NCAA West Preliminary Schedule
All times central time zone
Thursday, May 28
6 p.m. - Men's 1,500 meters first round: Andy Phillips
(Top five plus next four fastest advance to second round)
9 p.m. - Women's 10,000 meters semifinals: Jessica Mildes
(Top 12 advance to final in Eugene)
Friday, May 29
8:50 p.m. - Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Shelby Mills
(Top 3 from each heat + next 3 fastest times to semifinal in Eugene)
9:30 p.m. - Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Troy Fraley
(Top 3 from each heat + next 3 fastest times to semifinal in Eugene)
Saturday, May 30
6:45 p.m. - Men's 1,500 meters quarterfinals
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)
8:05 p.m. - Women's 5,000 meters semifinals: Maggie Jones
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)
8:45 p.m. - Men's 5,000 meters semifinals: Willie Milam
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)