UWA Graduate Assistant Qualifies For Second Olympic Games

LIVINGSTON, AL — University of West Alabama track and field graduate assistant Raven Saunders qualified this week for her second Olympic Games, finishing second in shot put at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

UWA said on her third throw of the finals, Saunders scored a meet record and a personal best of 19.96 meters, placing her second overall during trials.

The native of Charleston, South Carolina was a four-time NCAA champion at the University of Mississippi and took fifth in shot put at her first Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

The 2021 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo at Japan National Stadium from Friday, July 23 until Sunday, Aug. 9.

What's more, Saunders may not be alone in representing the west Alabama area on Team USA. As Patch previously reported, Stillman College alum Jeff Henderson advanced to the men's long jump finals at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials, which will be Sunday, June 27 at 5:45 p.m. local time.

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