Straight off the close of the collegiate track & field season and one of the most successful seasons in Drake history, members of the Drake University track & field teams continue their season in the upcoming weeks at various Olympic Trials, national and international competitions.
 
Adam Kessler, the school record holder in the shot put and honorable mention All-American, is one of those student-athletes that competed for a spot in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
 
Kessler qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the shot put and finished 21st in the opening round of the competition. Kessler fouled on his first and third throws, but recorded a throw of 58-6 (17.83m) on his second attempt.
 
Kessler owns a personal best of 65-4 (19.91m) in the event, which ranked as the 21^st best by an American this year heading into the competition.
 
Yinka Mary Ajayi, the Missouri Valley Conference 400-meter champion and anchor of the Bulldogs' 4x400-meter relay is also in the mix to represent her native Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics. Her season best of 53.48 in the event in the seventh-fastest by a Nigerian this season.
 
Also in the sprints, Drake's Gal Arad will be in Israel's pool of men's 4x100-meter runners at this weekend's Second Division European Team Championships in Bulgaria. Arad will compete Saturday and Sunday for the Israeli squad.
 
Arad's season best of 10.56 to finish third at the MVC Championship is the second-fastest time by an Israeli this season. His season-best of 21.11 in the 200 meters is also the second-fastest among his fellow Israeli competitors.