'WHITEWATER, WIS. 3/14/04  - Keene State College added two more athletes to its long list of All-Americas at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships held this weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Dave Bridgewater, a junior from Unionville, Conn., earned the honor with his sixth place finish in the 1,500-meter race while Shannon O'Brien, a junior from Tilton, N.H., received her first All-America award with her eighth place finish in the 800-meter event.

Bridgewater, who earned All-America honors this fall in cross country and last year as a member of KSC's distance medley relay team, claimed his first individual All-America award.  After getting off to a good start, Bridgewater slipped back in the pack.  He later rallied to pass several runners and finish the race with a season-best time of 3:54.11.

Ryan Kleimenhagen of Wisconsin-Platteville won the race with a time of 3:52.40.

O'Brien was assured of her All-America status with her fourth place finish (2:16.11) in Friday night's qualifying race.  She led from the gun and was nipped at the line.  With an eight -runner final all competitors were assured of making All-America, Not feeling well, O'Brien finished eighth in the final (2:23.78).  "She did her work in the heat," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas.

A junior from Wethersfield, Conn., Laurie Yorgensen placed 10th (2:18.33) in the 800-qualifying race and did not earn a place in the finals.  "She had a good performance in her first attempt at an individual All-America honor," Thomas said.

Yorgensen is a two-time DMR All-America for the Owls.

With the addition of Bridgewater and O'Brien, KSC has now produced a combined 62 men's and women's track All-Americas.