Ferris State Opens Action At D2 Track Championships As Stillwell Places 18th In Hammer Throw

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's outdoor track and field squad officially action in the 2017 NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday (May 25) at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. 

FSU sophomore Cody Stillwell (Cadillac), who's one of two FSU competitors to earn berths into the national championships, opened the Bulldog action and placed 18th overall in the hammer throw with a toss of 51.28 meters or 168-3 in the event on day one of the national meet. It marked his first competition at the D2 National Championships in his collegiate career.

Ferris State junior Jon Cok (Grand Rapids/Christian) was also chosen to compete in the high jump at the national championships and will compete on the final day of the meet Saturday (May 27) starting at 5:30 p.m. (ET).

The NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Committee announced the participants for the 2017 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The event is being hosted by the University of Tampa along with the IMG Academy. 

A total of 754 participants, 377 men and 377 women, are slated to compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event. 

This year, Cok previously claimed All-America honors by placing sixth overall in the high jump at the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. He holds the sixth-best performance during the outdoor season at 2.12 meters (6-11.50) of the 19 qualifiers selected to compete in the high jump. Cok had his best performance of the outdoor season at the Al Owens Classic in Allendale this year and finished among the top three overall in all six of his competitions during the outdoor campaign, including two first-place efforts and three runner-up performances. His top mark set a school record in the outdoor high jump this season.

Meanwhile, Stillwell had the 15th-best mark in the hammer throw at 60.66 meters (199-0) of 20 selected competitors going into the national championships. His top mark also came at the Al Owens Classic on April 21st. Stillwell twice won the hammer throw in outdoor action this year while also placing second in two different meets. Presently, his 60.66 effort ranks second all-time in school outdoor history.

The championships are being streamed live on www.NCAA.com.