Rushin, Bullinger to compete at NCAA West Regional for Missouri

Two Jackson High School graduates who have excelled in track and field at the University of Missouri will try to reach the NCAA outdoor championships this week.

Sophomore Jill Rushin and senior Jacob Bullinger both qualified for the NCAA West Regional that will be held Thursday through Saturday on the University of Texas campus in Austin.

The top 48 in every individual event from each of the nation's two regions qualified, and the top 12 will earn a trip to next month's national meet in Eugene, Ore.

Rushin has the region's 15th-best shot put, a distance of 54 feet, 2 1/2 inches. She was third in the shot put at the recent Southeastern Conference outdoor meet after finishing second at this year's SEC indoor meet.

Rushin will be shooting for her second straight berth at the NCAA outdoor nationals. She qualified last year as a redshirt freshman by placing 12th at the West Regional.

Bullinger will be looking for his first national berth during his third straight regional appearance in the hammer throw. He is 33rd in the region with a top throw of 197-3.

Bullinger, the 2012 Big 12 Conference indoor weight throw champion, finished 11th at the recent SEC outdoor meet.

-- Marty Mishow