Martin places 21st at NCAA Outdoor Championships

Southeast Missouri State sophomore Chris Martin, a graduate of Central High School, finished 21st out of 24 qualifiers in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday evening.

It was the first appearance at the national meet, held annually in Eugene, Oregon, for Martin.

He recorded a distance of 50 feet, 9 1/4 inches on Friday. His best distance of the season was a leap of 51-8 1/4 set at his previous meet, which was the NCAA West Prelimary.

Florida's Marquis Dendy won the national title with a distance of 58-1 1/4.

Rushin finishes seventh

Jackson graduate and Mizzou senior Jill Rushin closed out her college career with a seventh-place finish in the shot put. She earned all-American status with a throw of 56 feet.

It was the first all-American finish in the event outdoors for Rushin, who was twice an all-American indoors.