Jessica Woodard made it to the podium in her first Diamond League track meet Sunday, placing 3rd in the shot put in Rabat, Morocco.
Woodard, a Cherokee graduate, threw 61-2 on her first attempt and finished 3rd overall, behind Portugal’s Auriol Dongmo [63-3] and Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands [61-10].
Woodard has competed in international meets in Canada and Brazil, but this was her first appearance in the Diamond League, the 14-meet European circuit that runs from early May through the Diamond League Final in September.
The 61-2 is Woodard’s 2nd-best throw this year. She hit 61-5 at the Tucson (Ariz.) Elite Classic two weeks ago.
Woodard ranks No. 16 in the world this year and No. 5 among U.S. women. Woodard threw 63-7 ¾ and placed 3rd at the U.S. Championships last year in Eugene and went on to place 8th at the World Championships, also in Eugene. She ranks 14th all-time among U.S. women.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 