FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Samantha Kunza became the first women's track and field student-athlete in Saint Louis University history to qualify for the NCAA Championships after advancing in the hammer throw at the NCAA Track and Field First Rounds Thursday at the University of Arkansas.
 
Kunza will compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the hammer on Thursday, June 6, at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.
 
Kunza's hammer throw of 62.64 meters was good for ninth in the West Region, which punched her ticket to Eugene. She will enter the NCAA Championships ranked 17th in the women's hammer among the 24 national qualifiers.
 
It is Kunza's second year in a row qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw. Last season as a senior at the University of Alabama, Kunza finished 18th overall at the Championships in Austin, Texas.
 
The Billikens have had a national qualifier in back-to-back seasons. Last year, Toby Gillen became the first Billiken to reach the NCAA Championships, earning second-team All-America honors by finishing 13th in the 5,000 meters.
 
Also competing in the First Rounds were Journey Amundson, Evan Bruenderman and Mikayla McDowell.

Amundson placed 33rd in the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.72 meters. She entered the round ranked 43rd.

Bruenderman leaped a school-record 15.41 meters to place 21st in the region despite entering the First Rounds ranked 46th. 

McDowell placed 40th in the 400 meters with a time of 53.98.