Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Westfield State’s Kerry Arouca will be competing in the NCAA Division III women’s indoor track and field national championships this weekend at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

The senior standout from Hanson, Mass., is ranked first in the 5,000 meter run with a conversion time of 17:03.41. Arouca shattered her personal best with a time of 17:00.11 on Boston University banked track at the All New England championships

Despite the No. 1 seed, Arouca’s chief goal is the earn All-America honors by placing in the top eight in the highly competitive field of 5,000 meter runners.

At the 2009 national finals, Arouca just missed All-America honors by placing ninth in the 5,000 with a time of 17:28.81. This years’ talented field of 15 national qualifiers includes three returning All-Americans, including St. Lawrence, N.Y., junior Wendy Pavlus, who placed sixth a year ago. Plus, she easily outdistanced the field to win the 2009 NCAA cross country championship.

“Kerry is ready to run,” said Westfield State assistant track coach Bill Devine. “I think she has a lot more left in her to crack the 17-minute barrier.”

What Arouca does have is big-meet experience. This will be her fifth trip to the NCAA national championships. She competed in two national cross country championships, earning All-America honors by placing 19th last fall. And she finished third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships.

The gun goes off for the 5,000 meter run on Saturday, March 13, at 4:20 p.m. EST. The official Championships Web site will provide links to live streaming video and results during competition.