Florida’s Mariam Kevkhishvili takes shot put title at NCAA track and field championships

Florida’s Kevkhishvili takes NCAA shot put title

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mariam Kevkhishvili has won the first title at the NCAA track and field championships.

The Florida junior took the shot put Thursday with a toss of 58 feet, 4½ inches. Sarah Stevens of Arizona State was second.

Kevkhishvili, who is from the nation of Georgia, won indoor national titles in 2008 and 2009.

On Thursday night, Oregon star Galen Rupp was scheduled to run in the 10,000-meter finals. The Ducks are trying for a rare team “Triple Crown” after winning men’s titles in cross country and indoor track and field earlier this season.

Rupp qualified for the 5,000 finals in the wee hours Thursday morning after his semifinal heat was delayed because of lightning.