NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware men’s and women’s track and field teams and the Blue Hen men’s golf squad will all be competing at their respective Colonial Athletic Association Championships this weekend.

The track and field teams will be competing at the CAA Outdoor Championships Friday and Saturday at James Madison University while the golf team will take part in the three-round, 54-hole CAA Championships at the Homestead Golf Club in Hot Springs, VA.

The CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, to be held at the JMU Track and Field Complex, will get underway Friday at 10 a.m. with the men’s javelin competition with the last event scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Sunday’s competition will begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s shot put.

William & Mary has won six straight team titles while Virginia Commonwealth is the defending men’s champion. Individual champions will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals to be held May 25-26 at the University of Florida.

The Delaware men will be trying to improve on last year’s sixth place finish after placing fifth in 2005. The team’s best CAA finish was second in 2002 with the Blue Hens’ last championship coming in 2000 when Delaware won the America East competition.

The Hens’ top hopes will be weight throwers Jared Wasser, Tony DiUlio, and Dave Gyurina, distance runners Kyle Schmid (at right) and Gregg Cantwell, and pole vaulter Dave DiVirgilio. Wasser was third in the shot put a year ago.

The Delaware women will be trying to improve on last year’s eighth place finish after placing seventh in 2005. The team’s best CAA finish was fifth in 2002 with the Blue Hens’ last championship coming in 1991 when Delaware won the America East title.

The Hens’ top hopes will be weight throwers Rachel Young, Stephanie Cronk, and Amanda Marshall, sprinters Cristine Marquez and Asha Quant, hurdler Alexi Capsouras, and distance runner Julia Somers. Young was third in the shot put last season.

The Blue Hen golfers posted their best ever team finish last year since joining the CAA with a fifth place team finish. Delaware finished eighth in 2005 after placing ninth the previous two seasons.

Delaware is led by senior Joe McLister, who earned All-CAA honors last year with a 10th place finish, the best ever for a UD golf since the Hens joined the CAA in 2001. Also for the Hens, Jeff Griest placed 17th a year ago and Josh Williamowsky was 20th. Georgia State is the defending team champion.