April 21, 2008

Stillwater, OK (UWIRE) -- Oklahoma State junior Merritt Dietz went through her usual motions, wound up, let her discus fly and it kept going.

Her discus traveled 56.18 meters, which set a school record and qualified Dietz for the Olympic trials.

"I was actually pretty nervous," Dietz said. "On my first throw I threw 46 meters, which is really low. The next throw I just thought about driving my leg and fundamental stuff and just let it go. It felt like a good throw but not that good of a throw."

The throw, which happened at the Kansas Relays on Saturday, qualified her for the "B" standard (56m) of the Olympic trials. The qualifying mark for the "A" standard is 59 meters.

Dietz said the "A" standard has been met about three times in the past two years. There are 24 spots at the Olympic trials, where she will try to break the 60-meter mark to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Dietz ranks third in the NCAA and second in the Big 12.

"I am really, really pleased with her consistency," said Rene Sepulveda, Cowgirl track and field coach. "This mark will be a huge boost to her confidence."

Dietz has broken the school record four times this season.

"I was excited for my teammate, to be able to see her have that kind of success," junior thrower Julie Rader said. "Merritt gives 100 percent every day and she's always willing to do whatever it takes to reach her goal.

"That's what you want to see as an athlete, someone else having that kind of success, because it inspires you to work harder every day."

Dietz said her goal for the season was to get to the Big 12 finals and then nationals.

The top eight throwers at the end of the season earn All-American honors, which Dietz said would be a great accomplishment.

The Olympic trials will be held at Hayward field in Eugene, Ore on June 27.

"I'm just really happy to go to the trials," Dietz said. "I mean, I'm only 20 years old, and most people there are 27, 28 and have been doing this a lot longer than I have."

(C) 2008 Daily O'Collegian via UWIRE