Rice University announces Gunnarsdottir, Simpson-Sullivan, Van der Westhuizen Set for NCAA Championships
AUSTIN – The Rice women's track and field team will send three throwers to Austin, Texas as Erna Gunnarsdottir, Tara Simpson-Sullivan and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen all clinched their spots at the NCAA Championships.
Gunnarsdottir will make an appearance at the championship meet for the second-straight season after a 12th-place finish at the NCAA West Prelims. The conference runner-up, and five-time C-USA shot put champion, will return to the NCAA Championships after a 15th-place showing at last year's meet.
Qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the third-consecutive year, Simpson-Sullivan enters the meet following a fourth-place showing at the NCAA West Prelims. This year, Simpson-Sullivan swept the weight/hammer throw titles at the C-USA meets and is coming off a 14th-place showing at last year's NCAA meet.
In just her freshman campaign, Van der Westhuizen qualified for the NCAA Championships after a seventh-place showing in the prelims. She was the C-USA Championship runner-up for javelin and her mark of 56.68m (185-11) currently ranks second all-time at Rice.
SCHEDULED COMPETITORS
Thursday (June 8)
Hammer Throw – Simpson-Sullivan
Javelin – Van der Westhuizen
Shot Put – Gunnarsdottir
Original source can be found here.