LONDON - WKU graduate Raigo Toompuu placed 30th out of 37 competitors during Friday morning's shot put qualifying round at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Toompuu, who represented his native country Estonia in the Games, tossed nearly identical marks in his first two qualifying throws, reaching the 18.87 and 18.91 meter plateaus, respectively. He scratched during his third and final attempt.

Final qualification was based off a set distance by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The top 12 distances advanced to this afternoon's final round, with the final qualfying mark falling at 20.35 meters. 

"We're extremely proud of him for getting here," WKU track and field coach Erik Jenkins said Tuesday. "He's the standard of a true athlete, a constant competitor."

The 31-year-old Toompuu is the first Hilltopper to compete in the shot put at the Olympic level and joins 2012 WKU graduate Ignacio Guerra as one of two Hilltopper throwers to compete in the Games. Guerra represented Chile in the javelin throw at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Toompuu is one of three WKU athletes competing in the 2012 Games, as 2011 graduate Claire Donahue competes for team USA in the pool and 2010 graduate Gavin Smellie runs for Canada's 4X100-meter relay team on the track.

Donahue placed 7th in the 100-meter butterfly last Sunday while Smellie competes August 10 at 1:45 PM (CT).