JACKSONVILLE (May 24, 2019) - For the second-consecutive day, an FIU Panther has advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. 

Gabrielle Rains highlighted a standout year in the discus taking fourth at the NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville on Friday, earning her first career appearance at the outdoor championships. Rains throw of 56.90m was more than three meters better than her previous PR, which was a throw of 53.23m last month at the Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational. 

Terrisa Russell capped her accomplished FIU career with a throw of 44.07m in the event. Russell earned gold in the weight throw at this year's conference indoor championships, and won the hammer at last year's conference outdoor championships. 

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Rains has a very realistic chance to earn All-American honors, as she will enter nationals ranked 11th based on preliminary results. Rains and fellow Panther Clarissa Cutliff will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, held June 5-8 in Austin, Texas. 

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