Maples Qualifies for NCAA Championships in Hammer Throw

FAYETTEVILLE, AR (NDSU Athletics/KVRR) – North Dakota State senior Lexi Maples advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw, highlighting the events for the Bison women’s track & field team on Thursday at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds.

Maples placed 11th in the hammer with a throw of 198-7 (60.52m). The top 12 finishers in each event advance to Eugene, Ore., for the national meet on June 5-8.

Maples’ trip to the NCAA Championships will be the sixth time in the past seven seasons that a Bison woman has qualified in the hammer throw.

Bison senior Nell Graham ran 52.97 to take 27th in the 400m dash, missing a spot in the national quarterfinals by three places.

In the 100m hurdles, NDSU senior Salmata Korgho finished 30th in 13.46, and Bailee Dierks took 40th in 13.76.

Dierks took 32nd place in the 400m hurdles, clocking 59.46 to improve eight spots over her pre-meet ranking of 40th.

Sophomore Alex Seagris finished 42nd in the javelin, throwing 144-9 (44.12m). Junior Makenna Vollmer finished 44th in the long jump with a mark of 18-09.75 (5.73m).

Allie Niska placed 45th in the 400m dash for her NCAA West Prelims debut.

Sprinter Kendra Kelley sustained an injury in the 100m dash and did not run the 200m dash.