Rushin to throw at USA meet

~ The former Jackson standout looks to qualify for the IAAF World Championships

Jill Rushin was down in the dumps when an illness hampered her chances of qualifying for last month's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

But it didn't take the 2010 Jackson High School graduate, who recently completed her sophomore outdoor season at the University of Missouri, long to bounce back.

Rushin recently learned that, based on meeting a performance standard, she qualified for this week's prestigious USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. She will compete in the shot put Saturday.

Following the Olympic year in London, the 2013 USA Championships serve as the selection event for the coveted spots to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships on Aug. 10 to 18 in Moscow.

"I'm very excited," Rushin said earlier in the week before leaving for Des Moines. "It was definitely one of the goals I had for this year."

Attaining that goal was even sweeter after Rushin's disappointment at last month's NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas.

Rushin ranked among the favorites to finish in the regional's top 12 and earn her second straight berth at the NCAA outdoor nationals. She qualified last year as a redshirt freshman by placing 12th at the West Regional.

But Rushin didn't even come close to reaching her top mark and finished just 20th in the regional, bringing her collegiate season to a close.

"I got very sick. We're not sure exactly what it was, but I believe it was strep throat, which I've had before," she said. "I performed to the best of my abilities, but it wasn't quite good enough.

"It was a pretty big heartbreak whenever I didn't make it [to nationals], but I'm glad I get another chance [this week]."

Qualifying for the USA Championships has continued Rushin's impressive career in the sport.

Rushin capped a brilliant run at Jackson High School by winning three state titles during her final two seasons. She captured the shot put and discus as a junior in 2009, then won the discus and was runner-up in the shot put as a senior in 2010.

Rushin hasn't slowed down at Missouri, where she has been an all-conference performer in both the Big 12 and SEC.

"I love Mizzou. It's a great school," said Rushin, third in the shot put at this year's SEC outdoor meet after finishing second at the SEC indoor meet. "Not only do I love the sports, but the campus is beautiful and I really like what I'm getting into for my major."

Rushin, majoring in biology and religious studies, has also excelled in the classroom, earning academic all-conference and all-region honors.

"I'd like to get into some type of cancer research field, but there also could be a future in coaching," said Rushin, who has been mentored by her father Richard, a former standout thrower in both high school and college.

In the meantime, Rushin wants to see just how far track & field will take her. Her long-term goal is the Olympics, but Saturday she'll shoot for a berth in the IAAF World Championships.

Rushin doesn't rank among the favorites during a competition in which only the top two finishers make Team USA -- two alternates will also likely be selected -- but she is optimistic.

"I just want to PR, do my best," she said. "I feel like I have a really good chance to PR a big one because my practices are going really well. I'm just going to have a positive outlook and see what happens."

Long 16th

Southeast freshman Kameron Long finished 16th in the 800 meters Thursday during the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Long, a native of Memphis, Tenn., ran the first heat of the prelims in 1:55.06 during the afternoon. The cut to make the finals was 1:53.28.

"The first heat is always tough to run in. That's the heat that has to set the pace for the rest of the competitors," Southeast assistant coach Ryan Lane said in a release. "Still, this is a good experience for Kameron. Going forward, he is in a great position to make a big jump when we start back up in September. He is as talented as anyone we've had."