FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Drake was represented by a sixsome of athletes at the NCAA West Region First Round preliminary meet with solid results by all. One Bulldog stood above the rest, however, as Ethan Elliott shot putted his way to the NCAA Track & Field Championships.
 
Elliott finished 11th, just one placement inside the qualification line, with a top throw of 18.70m/61-4.25. Elliott's throw punched his ticket to Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Track & Field Championships from June 10-13 at historic Hayward Field.
 
Cooper Cerese was also a member of the men's shot put field with hopes of doubling Drake athletes in Eugene. Cerese posted a top effort of 17.80m/58-4.75 to take 29th.
 
Maud Visscher was one of two women's throwers to compete in blue and white at the prelims. She took 15th in the shot put, just three spots outside the cut line, with a throw of 16.11m/52-10.25. Centaine Noom-Duckworth was the other Drake woman with a hammer throw of 59.96m/196-9, good enough for 21st.
 
Adam Phillips represented Drake in the men's hammer throw field with a 23rd place finish of 62.46m/204-11.
 
Drake had one runner on the track in Brenden Heitzig, who was 30th in the men's 10,000m with a time of 29:29.76.