TUCSON, ARIZONA, May 23 — Returning to competition for the first time since Drake, Rachel Richeson made herself the story of the USATF Throws Festival, held in conjunction with the Tucson Elite meet two days earlier.
On Thursday, she won her event with a 252-8 (77.02), a mark that only one other American has bettered this season, but that was just a warm-up. On Friday, in the USATF competition proper, the 26-year-old Notre Dame alum worked her way through the first five rounds with a best of 252-11 (77.09).
Then, on her final attempt, she hit her marks perfectly and watched it soar 259-0 (78.95) before screaming and jumping in celebration. The PR strengthened her position at No. 6 on the world all-time list and tightens her hold on No. 3 among Americans.
Richeson had posted before the competition, “I had to take a little time off after Drake, since an ankle injury I’d been throwing through finally had enough. Good news is we’re getting back in a groove and throwing pain free for the first time since indoor!”
Behind her came a pair of Chinese, Jiale Zhang at 250-10 (76.47) and Jie Zhao at 248-1 (75.62). Brooke Andersen, the ’22 world champion, placed 4th with her 247-3 (75.37).
Another who tightened her hold on an all-time rank was javelin thrower Madison Wiltrout. On her second toss she reached a PR-matching 209-5 (63.84) that had made her the No. 6 American ever the previous week. Then two rounds later, she went a couple of inches farther at 209-7 (63.88). Her message: “To anyone out there who has ever considered giving up on their dreams, DONT DO IT!”
She won by more than 13 feet over Sarah Blake’s 195-10 (59.69).
Adelaide Browley (née Aquilla), twice the NCAA champion in ’21 and ’22, won the shot at 63-0 (19.20) from Maggie Ewen’s 62-2¼ (18.95). The discus went to Jayden Ulrich, who hit 213-5 (65.08).
The men’s throws went according to form for the most part. Rudy Winkler’s 265-4 (80.88) captured the hammer from Trey Knight at 255-11 (78.01).
A strong first throw from Curtis Thompson gave him the javelin win at 272-1 (82.94) over Marc Minichello 266-7 (81.27).
Nick Ponzio took the shot at 69-6¼ (21.19). Reggie Jagers won the discus at 209-11 (63.98), topping ’23 World Champs finalist Brian Williams (205-10/62.75), coming back from a year away.
USATF THROWS FESTIVAL RESULTS
MEN’S EVENTS
PV: 1. tie, Christyan Sampy (US) & Nate Richartz (US) 18-5¼ (5.62); 3. Clayton Simms (US) 18-5¼; 4. Tray Oates (US) 18-5¼.
LJ: 1. Jeremiah Davis (US) 26-6½ (8.09); 2. Isaac Grimes (US) 26-0 (7.92).
SP: 1. Nick Ponzio (Ita) 69-6¼ (21.19); 2. Myles Kerner (US) 67-4 (20.52); 3. Jason Swarens (US) 67-¾ (20.44).
DT: 1. Reggie Jagers (US) 209-11 (63.98); 2. Brian Williams (US) 205-10 (62.75); 3. Sam Mattis (US) 204-11 (62.47); 4. Chad Wright (Jam) 200-3 (61.05); 5. Joseph Brown (US) 200-1 (61.00).
HT: 1. Rudy Winkler (US) 265-4 (80.88); 2. Trey Knight (US) 255-11 (78.01); 3. Rowan Hamilton (Can) 251-1 (76.55); 4. Tyler Williams (US) 250-10 (76.45); 5. Alex Young (US) 250-7 (76.39); 6. Grayson Fleming (US) 246-10 (75.23) PR; 7. Jordan Crayon (US) 246-6 (75.15).
JT: 1. Curtis Thompson (US) 272-1 (82.94); 2. Marc Minichello (US) 266-7 (81.27); 3. Sindri Guðmundsson (Ice) 264-10 (80.73).
WOMEN’S EVENTS
HJ: 1. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-3¼ (1.91); 2. Taylor Beard (US) 6-0 (1.83); 3. Emma Gates (US) 5-10 (1.78); 4. Inika McPherson (US) 5-10.
SP: 1. Adelaide Browley (US) 63-0 (19.20); 2. Maggie Ewen (US) 62-2¼ (18.95); 3. Abria Smith (US) 61-11 (18.87); 4. Lloydricia Cameron (Jam) 61-0 (18.59).
DT: 1. Jayden Ulrich (US) 213-6 (65.08); 2. Gabi Jacobs (US) 200-0 (60.96); 3. Samantha Hall (Jam) 196-11 (60.03); 4. Elena Bruckner (US) 195-1 (59.46); 5. Caisa-Marie Lindfors (Swe) 191-11 (58.51); 6. Inés López (Spa) 190-11 (58.21); 7. Rachel Dincoff (US) 188-9 (57.54).
HT: 1. Rachel Richeson (US) 259-0 (78.95) PR (3, x A) (231-3, 252-0, 245-10, 244-6, 252-11, 259-0) (70.48, 76.83, 74.94, 74.53, 77.09, 78.95);
2. Jiale Zhang (Chn) 250-10 (76.47); 3. Jie Zhao (Chn) 248-1 (75.62); 4. Brooke Andersen (US) 247-3 (75.37); 5. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 244-3 (74.46); 6. Erin Reese (US) 243-4 (74.18).
JT: 1. Madison Wiltrout (US) 209-7 (63.88) PR (6, x A) (196-4, 209-5 [6, x A], 203-11, 209-7, f, 202-5) (59.85, 63.84, 62.17, 63.88, f, 61.71);
2. Sarah Blake (US) 195-10 (59.69) PR; 3. Rhema Otabor (Bah) 192-10 (58.79); 4. Kathryn Mitchell (Aus) 192-7 (58.70); 5. Maddie Harris (US) 189-6 (57.76).
