AS SHE ENTERED ROUND 5, Cal’s Camryn Rogers, going for her third NCAA championship in the final meet of an illustrious college career, clung precariously to the lead. In spite of 4 throws at 245 or better — a mark not achieved, before that day, by any other hammer thrower in college history — she was protecting a lead of just 13 inches.
Why? Texas State’s Alyssa Wilson. After a nervous opening foul, Wilson threw a PR 245-4 (74.78), the farthest ever by an American-born collegian, followed by 244-7 (74.55).
Entering the finals, Rogers stood at 246-5 (75.11). Was the 2-time reigning champ vulnerable?
“My coach [Mo Saatara] always likes to say, ‘Keep it consistent and keep getting those big marks, then you’re going to have one that goes,’” Rogers said. “Finding the rhythm and finding the power for that one throw and get it out there when it counted.”
Enter the penultimate round. Rogers found the rhythm and put it away, throwing 254-10 (77.67), a mark for the ages, breaking her own meet, Canadian and Collegiate Records. It is No. 4 in the world for ’22 (3 of whom are North Americans) and No. 9 all-time and gives the 23-year-old the 10 longest throws in collegiate history.
“It’s the NCAA Championships,” she said, “so you expect everybody to bring their best. It’s exhilarating, and exciting.” Rogers became just the second 3-time winner of the event, joining Florence Ezeh of SMU (1999–01).
Third-placer Beatrice Llano’s Norwegian Record 236-6 (72.10) would have won every NCAA title prior to ’17.
The next 5 also recorded lifetime bests in the thrilling competition, and not by inches: Wilson by 4 feet, Sara Killinen by 5, Shelby Moran by 7, Jalani Davis by 12. Celebrations were everywhere in the greatest women’s hammer competition in collegiate history.
Wilson moved to No. 2 all-time college, surpassing Maggie Ewen’s previous CR by 10 inches, trailing only Rogers. It also gave her the American CR.
“She is an incredible athlete,” Rogers said of Wilson. “It is always exciting to compete against her because she is so competitive and so fierce.”
It didn’t escape Rogers that the World Championships will be held in this arena in 6 weeks: “I’ve been coming [to Hayward Field] since high school. I am super-pumped [about Worlds].”
Already an internationalist, Rogers began throwing as a member of the Richmond Kajaks in British Columbia, hitting 176 at 15, winning the Canadian Juniors in ’16, the Pan-Am Juniors in ’17, the World Juniors in ’18. She was 5th in Tokyo, 4ft from a medal.
WOMEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
(June 09)
1. Camryn Rogers’ (Cal-Can) 254-10 (77.67) CR (old CR 250-10/76.46 Rogers ’22) (9, x W)
(245-9 [x, 5 C], 246-5 [x, 4 C], 245-0 [x, 9 C], 245-9 [x, 6 C], 254-10, 249-0 [x, 3 C]) (74.90, 75.11, 74.69, 74.92, 77.67, 75.91);
2. Alyssa Wilson (TxSt) 245-4 (74.78) AmCR (old AmCR 244-6/74.53 Maggie Ewen [AzSt] ’18) (8, x A; 2, 7 C)
(f, 245-4, 244-7 [x, 9 C; 2, x AmC], f, 239-8, 237-7) (f, 74.78, 74.55, f, 73.06, 72.42);
3. Beatrice Llano’ (AzSt-Nor) 236-6 (72.10) NR (9, x C)
(217-5, 222-0, f, 224-8, 236-6, 229-10) (66.27, 67.68, f, 68.49, 72.10, 70.07);
4. **Sara Killinen’ (VaT-Fin) 233-0 (71.02) PR
(233-0, 222-1, 220-0, f, f, f) (71.02, 67.69, 67.06, f, f, f);
5. *Shelby Moran (AzSt) 231-7 (70.58) PR
(225-9, 229-4, 224-11, f, 231-7, 220-10) (68.82, 69.91, 68.55, f, 70.58, 67.31);
6. *Jalani Davis (Ms) 228-1 (69.53) PR
(215-2, 228-1, f, 214-4, f, 223-8) (65.59, 69.53, f, 65.32, f, 68.19);
7. *Anna Purchase’ (Cal-GB) 227-6 (69.34)
(f, 227-6, f, f, f, 224-6) (f, 69.34, f, f, f, 68.44);
8. *Madi Malone (Aub) 227-1 (69.22)
(227-1, f, 223-7, 219-0, 221-4, 222-7) (69.22, f, 68.16, 66.77, 67.47, 67.85);
9. Jillian Shippee (NC) 224-3 (68.36); 10. Rachel Tanczos (NDm) 220-11 (67.35) PR; 11. Lauren Jones (Ok) 219-8 (66.95); 12. Debbie Ajagbe (Mia) 218-5 (66.59) PR; 13. Kaila Butler’ (BG-Can) 216-11 (66.13); 14. **Tara Simpson-Sullivan’ (Rice-GB) 216-1 (65.86); 15. Amy Phillips’ (NDSt-GB) 215-0 (65.53); 16. Joy McArthur’ (USC-Jpn) 214-8 (65.45); 17. Shauniece O’Neal (SnIl) 212-8 (64.83); 18. *Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 211-3 (64.38); 19. DeeNia McMiller (Mem) 211-2 (64.36); 20. Elisia Lancaster (SnIl) 210-7 (64.20); 21. **Tess Keyzers (Mn) 209-0 (63.70); 22. Emily Mikoud (Army) 208-1 (63.43); 23. *Mayyi Mahama (Penn) 204-6 (62.33);… 3f—Jade Gates (Ky).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 1–10)