SHE COULDN’T HAVE timed it better. Nebraska junior Maddie Harris, 4th in the NCAA, came to Eugene with a PR of just 193-1 (58.85). Picked for 3rd on the formchart, she upended the storyline by delivering the meet of her life, defeating favorite (and training partner) Maggie Malone.
Harris opened with a 181-8 (55.39) that held the lead for a few minutes until Madison Wiltrout threw her 182-1 (55.51) opener. In round 2, Harris launched a 187-7 (57.18) that reclaimed the lead. Malone struggled, fouling her second after a first-round 171-5 (52.26). In round 3, Harris threw 175-9 (53.58), while Malone nailed one, taking over the lead at 192-1 (58.56).
With the order reshuffled for the final three attempts, Harris fouled her next throw. Ariana Ince, the only competitor with the WC standard of 209-4 (63.80), hit 171-10 (52.38).
Then came round 5, and Harris let loose with the best effort of her life. It was the only throw of the day to land beyond the 60m line, spearing the turf at 199-3 (60.73), a mark that moved her to No. 9 on the all-time U.S. list. Malone responded with an improvement to 192-10 (58.79).
Neither having anything to lose on their final attempts, both went hard and ended up fouling. Wiltrout, who never improved after her first throw, ended up 3rd. Ince’s best held her to 6th.
The 22-year-old Harris, the first collegian to win the title since Malone herself in ’16, said, “I was just happy to throw 60. It was crazy. All season I would have a far throw and then it would be hard for me to build off of that. So I was really proud of myself today. I started off decent, and then I followed that up with another good throw. I was able to keep going and have a cluster of good throws.”
Justin St. Clair, the Nebraska head, not only coaches Harris, but also NCAA champ Rhema Otabor as well as Malone. Harris said that collection of talent spurs her on. “It just makes you hungry, to have people around you throwing far. It just makes you want to throw far.”
Said Malone, “I am so proud of Maddie. She is such a great competitor and she works her butt off. Just to see her have a PB at the end of the season, good lord, you can’t be angry with that.”
WOMEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
(July 06)
1. Maddie Harris (Nb) 199-3 (60.73) PR (9, x A)
(181-8, 187-7, 175-9, f, 199-3, f) (55.39, 57.18, 53.58, f, 60.73, f);
2. Maggie Malone (NYAC) 192-10 (58.79)
(171-5, f, 192-1, 179-4, 192-10, f) (52.26, f, 58.56, 54.66, 58.79, f);
3. Madison Wiltrout (NC) 182-1 (55.51)
(182-1, 165-5, 159-4, 176-1, 177-7, 172-1) (55.51, 50.42, 48.58, 53.69, 54.12, 52.46);
4. Rebekah Wales (unat) 177-4 (54.06)
(173-2, f, 173-8, f, f, 177-4) (52.78, f, 52.93, f, f, 54.06);
5. Megan Albamonti (De) 176-3 (53.72)
(176-3, 171-1, 147-11, p, p, p) (53.72, 52.16, 45.10, p, p, p);
6. Ariana Ince (VelIron) 171-10 (52.38)
(168-1, 169-5, 169-4, 171-10, 170-3, f) (51.23, 51.64, 51.62, 52.38, 51.89, f);
7. Maura Huwalt (Aub) 161-1 (49.10)
(156-5, 147-0, 161-1, 156-0, f, f) (47.69, 44.80, 49.10, 47.54, f, f);
8. Maria Bienvenu (LaL) 156-5 (47.69)
(142-5, 156-5, p, f, p, p) (43.42, 47.69, p, f, p, p);
9. Julia Campezato (unat) 153-10 (46.90); 10. Jada Green (Co) 153-3 (46.73); 11. Hannah Jansen (FlInt) 151-3 (46.11); 12. Dana Baker (Duke) 148-11 (45.39).
