Track and Field | 7/11/2016 4:46:00 PM

EDMONTON, Canada – On a rainy day in Western Canada, former Texas State track and field athlete Anicka Newell became the second Bobcat to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She claimed one of three spots on the Canadian Olympic team in the pole vault on Monday at the Canadian Championships and Selection Trials at Foote Field.
 
Newell is the eighth Bobcat to ever qualify for the Olympics and the first to represent Canada. She will join ex-teammate Logan Cunningham, who will be representing the United States, in Brazil at this year's games. This will be the second time that multiple athletes with a connection to Texas State will be competing at the same Olympics, the first being the 2008 games in Beijing, China.
 
In the competition, Newell passed on the first five contested heights before clearing 4.20m (13-9.25) on the first attempt. She followed by clearing 4.30m (14-1.25) and 4.35m (14-3) each on the second vault. The meet ended for her after not able to get over the bar cleanly at 4.40m (14-5.25).
 
Newell placed second in the event behind Alysha Newman and ahead of Kelsie Ahbe. Both will be joining the former Bobcat in Rio and all three are heading to their first Olympic games.
 
The schedule in Brazil will see Newell compete in the qualifying round on Tuesday, August 16 beginning at 7:45 a.m. CT. The top 12, including ties, will advance to the finals on Friday, August 19 that starts at 6:15 p.m.
 
For the latest on Texas State track and field, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com and follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateTrack