Normally men need to throw just over 20.50 meters to qualify for the NCAA championships, but this the depth is unheard of and talented throwers will be left home with marks over 21 meters. Mike Lauro (LSU) was potentially one of those athletes with a season's best of 21.09m. This weekend, however, he improved more than a meter to 22.10m and secured his spot at nationals. And it was a good thing he did; his old mark would have ranked just 16th in the nation after this weekend and put him squarely on the bubble. He was one of just several athletes to secure a spot. Lonnie Pugh (Michigan State) was also on the bubble and now has a fairly secure spot. Montrell Morrow (East Carolina) and Akil Mills (Illinois State) also improved and look like they will take some of the last qualifying spots.
Fewer top women competed, but there were several big improvements. Denise Hinton (LSU) likely would have already qualified, but now her spot is secure after throwing a personal best and automatic qualifying mark of 21.28 meters. Beth Rohl (Michigan State) also moved off the bubble and up to 11th nationally. Overall 12 men and 10 women have secured automatic qualifying spots, well above the normal number. Declarations for indoor nationals will be posted here as soon as they are released.
Collegiate Men's Weight Throw
==========================================================================
Name Year School Result
==========================================================================
1 Michael Lauro SR LSU 22.10m 72-06.25 *
2 Jeremy Postin JR Florida 21.60m 70-10.50 *
3 Lonnie Pugh JR Michigan State 21.40m 70-02.50 *
4 Montrell Morrow JR East Carolina 21.15m 69-04.75 *
5 Akil Mills SO Illinois State 21.13m 69-04.00 *
6 Antonio James FR Michigan State 20.92m 68-07.75 *
7 Jay Gillespie SR Michigan State 20.64m 67-08.75
8 Denis Mahmic JR Virginia Tech 20.55m 67-05.25 *
9 Kevin Mays SR Central Michigan 20.35m 66-09.25
10 Trevor Kraychir SR Boise State 20.17m 66-02.25
11 Pete Delzer SR Wisconsin-Oshkosh (D3) 20.14m 66-01.00
12 Ben Ludtke SR Wisconsin-Oshkosh (D3) 20.12m 66-00.25
13 David Triassi JR Florida 20.11m 65-11.75
14 Matt Banse SR Iowa 19.63m 64-05.00
15 Ethan Dennis SO Michigan 19.62m 64-04.50
16 Tom Barr SR Bucknell 19.57m 64-02.50 *
17 Craig Robinson JR Southeast Missouri 19.56m 64-02.25
Cutoff: 19.50m *: Improvement
Collegiate Women's Weight Throw
==========================================================================
Name Year School Result
==========================================================================
1 Denise Hinton SO LSU 21.28m 69-09.75 *
2 Beth Rohl JR Michigan State 20.99m 68-10.50 *
3 Brittney Waller JR Clemson 20.68m 67-10.25 *
4 Amashi-Ali Kendall JR Louisville 20.63m 67-08.25
5 Taylor Smith JR Wisconsin 20.52m 67-04.00
6 Angelica Howard SR Alabama 19.85m 65-01.50 *
7 Melissa Kurzdorfer SO Penn State 19.76m 64-10.00
8 Amethyst Holmes SR Alabama 19.51m 64-00.25
Cutoff: 19.50m *: Improvement
Post-Collegiate Women's Weight Throw
==========================================================================
Name Affiliation Result
==========================================================================
1 Laishema Hampton Unattached 20.18m 66-02.50
Cutoff: 19.50m
CollegeHammer.com is a published by the non-profit Evergreen Athletic Fund and edited by Martin Bingisser. Please consider donating to help support the site.
