EUGENE, Ore. - Towson University women's track and field senior Ksenia Safonova will be competing in the hammer throw at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Oregon at historic Hayward Field on Thursday.

The women's hammer throw will begin at 4:30 p.m., Eastern time on Thursday. All field events will have online broadcasts via ESPN3. Trophy presentations, as well as the individual award ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, are also part of the ESPN3 online broadcast slate. Links to both the broadcast and live results are available on TowsonTigers.com.

"The feeling of being here and seeing all these great athletes who worked all these hours, days, months and even years to get this far and realize that you are one of them is amazing and hard to describe," said Safonova. "I didn't get here on my own. My coaches are the people that I trust every day, who set the new goals and teaching me that the sky is a limit and even then I have to aim 3 meters above it."

Safonova, who finished seventh in the hammer throw at the NCAA East Preliminary at the University of South Florida, is the third Tiger to qualify for the national championships and first since 2008. Kelly Robinson was a three-time qualifier in the javelin in 2004, 2005 and 2008 while Laura Passalacqua qualified in the high jump in 2007.

"Ksenia has been one of our best during her two years here," said Towson head coach Mike Jackson. "She's been a hard worker and leaves a long-lasting impression on anyone she meets. She is helping to take our program to the next level as she competes to be our first-ever All-American. I believe she will have her best performance tomorrow."

Safonova qualified for the NCAA championship after posting a mark of 61.71 meters (202-5) at the East Prelims, just short of her own program record of 62.35 meters (204-7) set at the ECAC Championships on May 12. The top 12 qualifiers in each event out of the East and West prelims qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

A total of 56 countries are represented at this year's national championships, including five from Safonova's native Estonia. A native of Tartu, Estonia, she is the lone female to represent her home country. There are four Estonian student-athletes on the men's side, including Georgia freshman Johannes Erm (Tallinn, decathlon) and senior Karl Saluri (Tallin, decathlon), Missouri senior Rauno Liitmae (decathlon) and Washington State freshman Sander Moldau (Rakvere, pole vault).

"I owe it to my family, who believes in me when I don't and who gave me this opportunity to explore the world and do what I love the most," said Safonova.

Safonova, who is currently seeded 22nd out of 24 competitors, finished second at the CAA Championships behind William & Mary's Leia Mistowski, but edged Mistowski at the East Prelims by one inch as Mistowski posted a mark of 61.67 meters (202-4) to finish eighth.

"The work is far from done," added Safonova. "This is a great opportunity to reach bigger goals and do it with a smile and my favorite hammer!"