May 28, 2011

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Maryland senior Kristen Batts went more than a foot past her previous career-best to finish 18th in the women's discus in Saturday's final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Rounds being hosted by Indiana University.

Batts had a mark of 162 feet, 6 inches in the competition, well past her previous career best of 161-5 set at the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. The Maryland senior came into the East Prelims seeded 34th in the event, which she won at the 2011 ACC Outdoor.

She needed to finish in the top 12 at the prelims to earn a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Nationals, but 12th place went to Valerie Wert of Akron, who had a best throw of 166-9. Tennessee junior Annie Alexander won the discus at 192-2.

Batts throw on Saturday improved her third-place mark on Maryland's all-time list in the discus.

The Terrapins picked up one ticket to the NCAA Nationals this weekend, with junior Dwight Barbiasz advancing in the men's high jump after tying for first.

The Nationals will be held June 8 to 11 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

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