DES MOINES, Ia. - Prairie View A&M sophomore Preston Woodard finished ninth nationally in the triple jump at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake University.

The Sweeny, Texas standout advanced to the finals of the triple jump as he jumped 52-2.  He had four additional attempts to move up in the standings but came up just short as his second-best jump registered 52-1 ¾.

Coached by head coach Chris Clay, Woodard had a history-making campaign as he accomplished the rare fest of qualifying for NCAA Nationals in both the indoor and outdoor championships.  Woodard also became the first Prairie View A&M men's track athlete to earn a national berth since 2009 and the first jumper since Ron Nelson's sixth-place appearance in the high jump in 2000.