DES MOINES, IOWA - Nadine Kleinert from Germany, who earned a silver medal in the women's shot put at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, has become the 52^nd Olympian to commit to participating in the 101^st running of the Drake Relays this weekend.

A silver medalist in the 2004 Olympics, Kleinert also represented her country at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics. She will compete in the women's invitational shot put scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Kleinert recorded the third-best throw in the world last year with a personal best of 66 feet 9.25 inches. The Drake Relays invitational record is 60-1 set by Liz Wanless last year.

Kleinert will join a field that includes four of the top 10 ranked shot putters in the United States including 2004 and 2008 Olympian Kristin Heaston who was runner up at the 2010 Drake Relays and has a personal best of 61-5.75.

Other ranked women's shot putters include Sarah Stevens, ranked No. 6; Chandra Brewer, ranked No.7 and Rachel Jansen, ranked No. 8.