LEWISTON – Izzy Alexander has spent her four years at Bates College smashing middle distance running and hurdling records.

Every time Vantiel Elizabeth Duncan ventures into the throwing circle, she’s a threat to embellish the Bobcats’ championship tradition.

Nobody was surprised Thursday to see either woman arrive at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., for this weekend’s NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships.

Alexander, an All-American in three different events, hopes to defend that status in the 800-meter run.

“I guess this would be my fifth time going, but I don’t think it gets any easier,” Alexander, a senior captain, said of the national experience. “It’s definitely different every time. It’s still almost kind of like the first time every time.”

Duncan is qualified in two events, aiming to repeat as All-American in the weight throw and striving to make it a clean sweep in her first love, shot put.

“I’ve worked very hard, and it’s paid off one more time,” said the junior from Topsham. “To put one if not two more titles on that little plaque on the wall would be great.”

Weight throw is primarily a collegiate event. Duncan, who starred in shot put and discus while dabbling in javelin at Mt. Ararat High School, is the latest protégé of venerable Bates throwing instructor Joe Woodhead.

Bates recently dedicated the throwing center in the heart of the refurbished Merrill Gymnasium track facility to Woodhead, whose pupils have pocketed six NCAA championships and 39 All-American plaudits.

“I think the ceremony that happened a couple weeks ago for the throwing center speaks volumes for not only who he is as a coach but as a person,” Duncan said. “He is one of those people who makes you know you can do it. We don’t need convincing, but he puts in that foundation. My success at the national level is all attributable to him. He’s the best. We all know he’s the best.”

The same could be said for Duncan in her endeavors of choice. She was champion in both shot put and weight throw at the ECAC Division III championships.

At Open New Englands, competing against an all-star field from all three collegiate divisions, Duncan snagged sixth in each event.

She’s seeded seventh nationally in the weight throw after last year’s eighth-place finish.

“No matter what type of athlete you are, you always have some sort of pressure. But I’ve been to nationals before,” Duncan said. “I can take that experience, take everything I’ve learned and compete. The whole board is wiped. Everyone is at zero. It doesn’t matter what you come in as. It’s what you leave as.”

Most impressively of all, Duncan only gravitated to the weight throw as a sophomore.

Finding the time to apply Woodhead’s lessons in the midst of a rigorous academic schedule has been a chore.

“When I came here, I knew track wasn’t going to be my No. 1 priority. It was going to be just one of the things I love to do,” said Duncan. “Sometimes I don’t have lunch hours because I’m practicing for track. But those key moments with your coach where he or she is able to see you and work with you pay off with things like my trip to Indiana.”

On the flip side, Alexander has been running toward her NCAA goals, literally, for as long as she can remember.

Name a running event longer than a sprint and Alexander has excelled at it. She owns Bates’ indoor records in the 500, 600 and 800 as well as the 4×400, 4×800 and distance medley relays. Outdoors, she’s set the all-time school standard in 100 and 400 hurdles and the 4×400.

“The pressure is what you put on yourself, mostly. I don’t really feel pressure from the outside. It’s just me wanting to be the best that I can,” Alexander said. “My freshman year I was close to provisionally qualifying (for outdoor NCAAs) in the 400 hurdles. I saw that I just missed it by a little bit, so that became a goal.”

Alexander has been an All-American in distance medley relay and 800 (indoor) and 400 hurdles (outdoor). She is seeded sixth in the 800 today, matching her 2008 finish.

“I’d like to (set a personal record) and just run a good race,” said Alexander. “I’ll see what happens. Just try my best and leave it all out there.”