Former Hilltopper Jessica Ramsey headed to Tokyo Olympics

Jake Moore, Sports Editor

Jessica Ramsey, a former member of WKU’s Track & Field program, set an Olympic Trials meet record to win the women’s  shot put event on Thursday night to secure a trip to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“What an exciting moment for everyone in the WKU Track family, past and present,” Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Brent Chumbley said in a press release. “We wish Jessica the best as she takes on the world as part of Team USA.  Go Tops!”

Ramsey set a new personal best (20.12m) on her fourth throw in order to win the event and qualify for Tokyo. She was in second place entering the final round of competition after throwing a personal best (18.82m) in the qualifier.

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The Boynton Beach, Florida native collected seven individual Sun Belt championships during her time at WKU, winning both the indoor and outdoor shot put in 2013 and 2014, the weight throw in 2014 and both the discus and hammer events in 2014 as well. Ramsey was named a First-Team All-American in shot put during her senior year in 2014 as well as earning Second-Team honors in the hammer throw and an Honorable Mention in discus.

Ramsey still holds the WKU records for women’s shot put (54’0.5″), weight throw (66’10”) and the outdoor records for shot put (57’4.75″) and discus (176’8″). All of her records were set in 2014 and stand to this day.

The former Hilltopper is currently a volunteer assistant coach with the throwing group on Ole Miss’ Track & Field program.

Sports Editor Jake Moore can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Charles_JMoore.