TOKYO -- Former Aztec Shanieka (Thomas) Ricketts qualified for the triple jump final at 2020 Tokyo Olympics Friday at Olympic Stadium.
Ricketts, who entered the 2020 Games ranked second in the world in the event, only needed one attempt to hit her qualifying mark of 14.43 meters (47-04.25). The qualifying leap was the fourth best of Group B and sixth overall out of the 34 entrants.
Sunday's final is set for 4:15 a.m. PDT (8:15 p.m. local time).
It will be the first Olympic final for Ricketts, who tied for 13th in the triple jump at the 2016 Tokyo Olympics with a mark of 14.02m (46-00.00), missing the final by one place. Ricketts was second at the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Qatar at 14.92m (48-11.50) and has a personal best of 14.98m (49-01.75).
Ricketts was a three-time NCAA triple jump champion (2013-14 outdoor, 2014 indoor) and a two-time runner-up finisher (2012 outdoor, 2013 indoor) while at San Diego State en route to being inducted into the Aztec Hall of Fame.