ON A ROLL with 3 Diamond League top-3 finishes—including a win in Shanghai—and national championships at USATF indoors and New Zealand outdoors, 25-year-old Chase Ealey was a firm favorite. Despite unfavorably wet conditions, she quickly took control. “I have been throwing in the rain for a while. I think I started this year in monsoon season in Phoenix,” she said. “I wasn’t that afraid, I slowed down and felt great.”
Opening with a 60-6¾ (18.46) as the fourth thrower in flight 2, the ‘16 NCAA silver medalist for Oklahoma State took a lead she wouldn’t relinquish. From there she had the third best throw of her life and her best series of the season. Her 64-2¼ (19.56) on her second attempt was followed by a foul and then three more throws beyond 62-feet to dominate the competition.
“My first throw is always a little timid, but that was still one of my best first throws of the season,” she analyzed. “Then, my second throw I knew what I needed to do. I’m happy I got my series right. I trained through this meet a little bit and want to focus my peak on Doha.”
Rio gold medalist Michelle Carter, having her best outing since taking bronze at London in ’17, went 61-4 (18.69) in round 3 to move into silver-medal position ahead of “thrower of things” Maggie Ewen, who had a 60-6 (18.44) in the previous stanza and ended up 3rd after winning last year.
The 33-year-old Carter, who recently hosted a camp for girls and an elite competition in Arlington, Texas, said, “I just want to keep improving, and the goal was just to make the team. I made the team and I have 2 more months of training now to get ready for Worlds. I practiced going after every single throw and increased my intensity in training.”
Jeneva Stevens, who overcame a sluggish start to pop a 60-3 (18.36) on her final attempt, will have to wait and see if Ealey—currently holding a narrow points lead—wins the Diamond League title, which would open up another spot and gain the Des Moines 4th-placer a berth on the Doha squad.
USATF WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
(July 28)
1. Chase Ealey (Nik) 64-2¼ (19.56)
(60-6¾, 64-2¼, f, 62-11½, 62-7¾, 63-8¾) (18.46, 19.56, f, 19.19, 19.09, 19.42);
2. Michelle Carter (Nik) 61-4 (18.69)
(59-1½, 58-6½, 61-4, 59-5, 54-8¼, f) (18.02, 17.84, 18.69, 18.11, 16.67, f);
3. Maggie Ewen (Nik) 60-6 (18.44)
(59-6¼, 60-6, f, 53-9¾, 57-9¾, 56-3¼) (18.14, 18.44, f, 16.40, 17.62, 17.15);
4. Jeneva Stevens (NYAC) 60-3 (18.36)
(58-1, 56-3¼, 54-7¼, 55-9, f, 60-3) (17.70, 17.15, 16.64, 16.99, f, 18.36);
5. Daniella Hill (unat) 58-1¼ (17.71);
6. Jessica Woodard (unat) 57-11 (17.65);
7. Lena Giger (unat) 56-11¼ (17.35);
8. Khayla Dawson (In) 56-10 (17.32);
9. Rachel Fatherly (Vel) 56-8½ (17.28);
10. Samantha Noennig (AzSt) 56-5¼ (17.20);
11. Monique Riddick (Vel) 55-7 (16.94);
12. Jessica Ramsey (Vel) 54-9½ (16.70);
13. Julie Brown (unat) 53-7½ (16.34);
14. Aliyah Gustafson (BG) 52-1¼ (15.88);
15. Maddy Pollard (In) 52-0 (15.85);
16. Kiley Sabin (Mn) 49-11¾ (15.23);
17. Alyssa Wilson (UCLA) 49-¼ (14.94);
… 3f—Taylor Latimer (KsSt). ◻︎
