Feb. 26, 2008

San Marcos, Texas- - Former Texas State All-American Abby Ruston has qualified to compete in the shot put for Team USA at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships that will be held on March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain after she recorded a second-place finish at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Ruston placed second in the shot put with a throw of 18.03 meters (59' 2") on her sixth and final throw at the USA Meet that was held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on Feb. 23-24.

The top two finishers in each event at the USA Indoor Championships qualify for the USA squad, provided they have met IAAF performance standards.

Jillian Camera won the event with a put of 18.11 meters (59'5"), while Ruston edged Elizabeth Wanless, who finished in third place with a throw of 18.01 meters (59' 1¼").

A native of San Antonio, Ruston earned All-American honors at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2007.

She placed fifth in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a mark of 16.61 meters at Fayetteville, Ark., before concluding her collegiate career with a second-place showing in the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field meet with a mark of 17.44 meters (57' 2 ¾") on her fifth throw in Sacramento, Calif.