ANY THROWS FAN looking for drama Thursday night needed to Google “theaters in Eugene,” because they weren’t going to get it from the women’s javelin. Or at best, they needed to look toward the lesser medals.
BYU’s favored Ashton Riner all but sealed the deal on her first throw with a toss of 191-1 (58.24) at a time that the rest of the field was struggling just to reach the 170s.
After that, the only serious threat (and drama) came in the third round. After two lackluster opening throws, Nebraska’s Maddie Harris, formcharted at No. 3, was facing the very real threat of not qualifying for the finals. She saved herself — and came within 2ft of Riner — by launching one out to 189-3 (57.69).
Harris may have hoped that throw would set the stage for a later challenge, but it never materialized. Three more poor throws prompted her to step across the line for intentional fouls, and she settled for silver.
North Carolina’s Madison Wiltrout, No. 2 on the formchart, secured 3rd in the fifth round with a 185-3 (56.46). It was her second NCAA bronze — her first came in ’19 in Austin.
Even Riner wasn’t a threat to Riner. The Cougar senior’s second throw reached 187-1 (57.02) and she would go no farther.
“I feel pretty good,” Riner said. “I was wishing for a little more, but I’ll take it. I wish I executed a little better, but I still have one more meet [USATF] to do that. My practice leading up was really good. So, I knew I could do it. I just wish I could calm myself down a little bit more, but I’ll take it.”
Riner said an earlier competition at the Oregon Twilight meet helped: “I love the feeling of this track. I figured out that I loved it, so I came in with more confidence.”
She’ll get to enjoy that track once again in two weeks: “I am so excited,” Riner said about the USATF meet. “All of [my competitors] are my idols so I’ve always looked up to them. So I’m just excited to meet them and compete against them.”
WOMEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
(June 09)
1. Ashton Riner (BYU) 191-1 (58.24)
(191-1, 187-1, 182-7, 177-4, f, 176-9) (58.24, 57.02, 55.65, 54.07, f, 53.88);
2. **Maddie Harris (Nb) 189-3 (57.69)
(158-4, 157-11, 189-3, f, f, f) (48.26, 48.13, 57.69, f, f, f);
3. *Madison Wiltrout (NC) 185-3 (56.46)
(167-6, 178-3, 173-0, 168-0, 185-3, 183-4) (51.06, 54.33, 52.75, 51.20, 56.46, 55.88);
4. **Rhema Otabor’ (FlInt-Bah) 183-5 (55.92)
(165-0, 183-5, f, 173-7, 179-7, f) (50.30, 55.92, f, 52.91, 54.75, f);
5. Sara Zabarino’ (FlSt-Ita) 182-5 (55.61)
(174-7, 177-0, 182-5, 173-3, 167-6, f) (53.23, 53.96, 55.61, 52.81, 51.06, f);
6. **Kate Joyce (Prin) 179-5 (54.68) PR
(154-3, 170-3, 179-5, f, 166-7, 176-3) (47.03, 51.91, 54.68, f, 50.77, 53.73);
7. Virginia Miller (Stan) 177-7 (54.12)
(161-6, f, 177-7, 174-0, 168-4, f) (49.22, f, 54.12, 53.05, 51.32, f);
8. ***Valentina Barrios Bornacelli’ (WaSt-Col) 177-3 (54.03) PR
(167-6, 172-4, 177-3, 170-5, 168-0, 161-7) (51.07, 52.53, 54.03, 51.95, 51.21, 49.27);
9. *Sophia Rivera’ (Mo-PR) 176-9 (53.87); 10. Kari Wolfe (NDSt) 175-8 (53.55); 11. Kelechi Nwanaga’ (FlSt-Ngr) 175-1 (53.37); 12. Ashley Carter (Aub) 174-9 (53.26); 13. **Dana Baker (Duke) 172-1 (52.47) PR; 14. **Mirta Kulisic’ (Nb-Cro) 171-9 (52.35); 15. ***Katelyn Fairchild (TxAM) 170-7 (52.00); 16. ***Lianna Davidson’ (TxAM-Aus) 170-7 (51.99); 17. Madison Smith (PennSt) 167-11 (51.18); 18. Alexis McAllister (BYU) 166-4 (50.71); 19. *Ava Curry (Mo) 166-0 (50.60); 20. Samantha Zelden (Al) 165-9 (50.53); 21. **Leonie Troeger’ (Cinc-Ger) 165-2 (50.34); 22. **Arianne Morais’ (UTEP-Nor) 164-11 (50.26); 23. **Shaniya Holley (Aub) 158-4 (48.26); 24. Erin McMeniman (Brown) 151-4 (46.12).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 10)
