Southeast Missouri State's Farley qualifies for NCAA Outdoor Championships

Kevin Farley joined the Southeast Missouri State track & field celebration Friday night by becoming the Redhawks' third national qualifier.

Farley finished eighth in the shot put at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas. The top 12 in each individual event qualify for next month's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Farley, a sophomore, broke his own school record with a career-best performance of 60 feet, 8 1/2 inches on his final try. He had made it to the finals with a 60-1 on his first attempt.

"His first throw cracked 60 feet, which would've gotten him in nationals anyway. Then he went and had a PR on his last throw," Southeast coach Eric Crumpecker said in a release. "He was very consistent and had a great overall meet."

Farley joins fellow sophomores Blake Carter and Reggie Miller Jr. in making it to nationals. Carter was seventh in the long jump and Miller Jr., tied for ninth in the high jump, both events being contested on Thursday.

Those three represent Southeast's first qualifiers for outdoor nationals since 2009 and the program's first male qualifiers since 2008.

"It will be exciting to take this group to Eugene," Crumpecker said.

Also Friday, senior Craig Robinson was 29th in the shot put (54-6 3/4) while senior Jill Schnurbusch, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, tied for 36th in the pole vault (12-2).

Miller Jr. also competed in the triple jump Saturday as the meet concluded. He just missed out on a spot in the finals -- top 16 from the preliminaries -- finishing 17th with a career-best 50-10 3/4.

Southeast's final regional qualifier, junior Courtney Gapelu, broke her own school record in the shot put Saturday with a career-best 52-1 to place 19th.

Two University of Missouri athletes who graduated from Jackson High School competed Saturday but missed out on national berths.

Sophomore Jill Rushin, shooting for her second straight appearance at outdoor nationals, was 20th in the shot put (51-11 3/4).

Senior Jacob Bullinger was 22nd in the hammer throw (197-0).