DES MOINES, Iowa – Seven of the best American throwers and a Brazilian Olympic finalist will step inside the Drake Stadium circle for the women's shot put at the upcoming 2017 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Relays Blake Boldon announced Friday, April 7.
 
Geisa Arcanjo will make her Drake Stadium debut after advancing to the finals of the 2016 Rio Olympics in her native Brazil and a sixth-place finish at the 2012 Olympics. With a personal best of 62-5 (19.02m) she is also a three-time South American champion.
 
American Olympian Felisha Johnson returns to Drake Stadium for the 2017 Relays after recently finishing third at the recent 2017 U.S. Indoor Championships as does Jeneva Stevens. A versatile thrower, Stevens was fourth at the 2017 U.S. Indoor Championships and eighth at last summer's U.S. Olympic Trials. As a collegian at Southern Illinois, Stevens was a 13-time Missouri Valley Conference champion and a seven-time All-American in the throws.
 
Kelsey Card, who competed in the 2016 Olympics in the discus, joins the field after collecting an eighth place finish at the 2017 U.S. Indoor Championships in the shot put. Brittany Smith, who was second at the U.S. Indoor Championship, is also scheduled to compete with a personal best of 62-2.5 (18.96m). Tina Hillman, who was a two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State who finished ninth at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials will challenge the field as will Dani Bunch, a 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials finalist.
 
Jessica Ramsey, a U.S. Olympic Trials competitor in both the shot put and hammer throw completes the field for the 2017 Drake Relays Presented by Hy-Vee.
 
The women's shot put is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, inside Drake Stadium as part of Hy-Vee Night at the Relays. Tickets for all sessions of the 2017 Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee are available through the Drake Athletic Ticket Office in person, by calling 515-271-3647 or visiting DrakeTix.com.
 
2017 Drake Relays Presented by Hy-Vee Women's Shot Put Field

Name	Country	PR	Olympics	2016 Drake Relays Finish
Felisha Johnson	USA	63-2.25 (19.26m)	2016	6th
Geisa Arcanjo	Brazil	62-5 (19.02m)	2016, 2012
Kelsey Card	USA	60-10.75 (18.56m)	2016
Dani Bunch	USA	61-11.75 (18.89m)		3rd
Brittany Smith	USA	62-2.5 (18.96m)		4th
Jeneva Stevens	USA	62-8.5 (19.11m)		7th
Jessica Ramsey	USA	60-5.25 (18.42m)		8th
Tina Hillman	USA	58-2 (17.73m)