Jessie Rowland Finishes 11th At Virginia Tech Qualifier

Jessie Rowland, a sophomore throws specialist, represented the Bowling Green State University track and field team on Saturday (March 5) at the Virginia Tech Final Qualifier with hopes of reaching the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Rowland entered the event ranked 30th in the country after her 19.45 meter toss that won the 2011 Mid-American Conference indoor weight throw championship.

At the Blacksburg, Va. meet, Rowland placed 11th out of the 16 entrants with a toss of 18.37 meters (60-03.25). The throw was the second-best of her career, but it fell just 0.27 meters shy of allowing her to continue in the finals of the event. She would have earned three additional throws by placing in the top nine.

As of Sunday morning (March 6), Rowland is now 31st among all weight throw competitors in Division I of the NCAA. The announcement of the field for the 2011 NCAA indoor championship meet will take place in the next few days, with the actual meet occurring next weekend (March 11-12) in College Station, Texas.