June 16, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa - Ohio's Bahiyjaui Allen competed in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships last weekend, taking 27th place in the shot put.

She threw on Thursday in the preliminary round, with a toss of 47 feet, 3.50 inches, to take 27th place. Kent State's Lavania Henderson placed 12th with a throw of 49 feet, 11.25 inches to lead all MAC representatives while Arizona State senior Jessica Pressley won the event with a throw of 59 feet, 5.75 inches.

"It was a great experience for her to have," said throws coach Nick Pero. "Since she is just a sophomore she has two more years to improve, get back and do better."

Allen earned an at-large bid after head coach Clay Calkins and Pero noticed an error in the NCAA's selection process. Originally Allen did not earn one of the at-large bids, which were announced on Tuesday, June 3, but the Ohio coaching staff noticed that one student-athletes who did earn a bid had the same top throws during the regular season as Allen posted.

The NCAA acknowledged the error and Allen recieved an at-large bid two days later on Thursday, June 5.

Overall, LSU won the women's national championship while Florida State took home the men's title. LSU was the runner-up in the men's