EUGENE, Ore ? Freshman Laishema Hampton has qualified to compete in the shot put at the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Hampton's 50 feet 3 ? inches effort was good enough for a second-place finish.

“It's a great opportunity for her to represent the USA and Iowa State at the same time,” head coach Corey Ihmels said. “It's another opportunity for her to compete at a really high level. Both Laishema and Danielle (Frere) had a great battle within the shot put competition at the USA Junior Championships and we're just really excited that Laishema will be able to represent Iowa State at a very high level.”

The 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships will be held July 31st to August 2nd in Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago. Live results will be posted on cyclones.com.

Shot Put: 1) Anastasia Jelmini, unattached, 53-0; 2) Laishema Hampton, IOWA STATE, 50-3 ?.