MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University sophomore thrower Aubrey Martin (Muscatine, Iowa) will take part in this weekend?s NCAA Division I Outdoor Track Championship in Austin, Texas. Martin reached the national meet in the shot put after finishing second at the NCAA Mideast Regional on May 29 with a toss of 54?10.75? in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Martin?s coach and Western assistant coach/throws, Ross Richardson, feels confident in his athlete. ?Aubrey has really created her own opportunity. She made a serious commitment to her training after the indoor season, which has helped her throw consistently long all season. If she performs like she is capable of, Aubrey will definitely be in the running for the finals on Saturday.?The 2003-04 Indoor All-Mid-Continent Conference honoree and 2004 Outdoor All-Mid-Con honoree set a new Western Illinois and Mid-Con record in the shot put with a heave of 55?03.75?. The toss ranks her 12th entering this weekend?s national championship. Leading the event is Laura Gerraughty of North Carolina with a top throw of 60?10.00?. Other athletes in the event are Becky Breisch of Nebraska (4th, 57?04.75?) and Janae Strickland of Missouri (10th, 55?06.25?). Breisch captured the 2004 Drake Relays title and Strickland was the NCAA Mideast champion (55?01.50?), edging out Martin for the title.The shot put begins at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 10 with the qualifying round. The 12 top throwers advance to the finals on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. The throws from Thursday are not carried over to the final round.