TOTAL DOMINATION. That’s a succinct description of Axelina Johansson’s performance in the shot. Nebraska’s Swedish soph produced the 6 longest marks of the evening, all beyond 62-feet (18.90). She finished up with a winning final throw of 63-3¼ (19.28), third-best-ever at this meet, and almost a meter farther than anyone else could manage.
For each attempt, she would enter the ring, perform a short dance at the back, fling her braids over her left shoulder, spin very quickly and launch — usually expressionless and only twice requesting spectator participation. Despite a taped right ankle, the 23-year-old favorite didn’t really require any assistance.
“I think it’s the best series of my life,” said the former multi-eventer. “I was very consistent, almost everything was 19m. It felt awesome. I think I had a great throw in me. I didn’t really get it today, but it will come. I have a long summer.”
Johansson’s expected duel with Jorinde van Klinken, Oregon’s discus CR holder from the Netherlands, never transpired. The Duck, 1st indoors and 2nd outdoors last year, held a 2–1 edge in their meetings this season, but Johansson, the indoor runner-up, owned a much better outdoor mark. Van Klinken seemed unable to find her rhythm, and stood only 4th until her final attempt, when she reached 60-7¾ (18.48) to finish 2nd.
The others in a quality field of entrants — the meet’s deepest ever — performed admirably, recording the best-ever mark-for-places in 3–14 (at least) in NCAA history.
UNLV junior Rosa Santana held 2nd during much of the event with a near-PR 60-3¼ (18.37), which eventually sufficed for 3rd, same as her indoor finish. Another Dutch athlete, Florida frosh Alida van Daalen, produced an outdoor PR 59-8½ (18.20) in the third round, and was denied a higher podium place only by her countrywoman’s final effort.
WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
(June 08)
1. **Axelina Johansson’ (Nb-Swe) 63-3¼ (19.28) (x, =10 C)
(62-1¼ [6, 8 NCAA], 62-7¼ [5, 6 NCAA], 62-2½ [x, 8 NCAA], 62-1¾ [x, 10 NCAA], 62-3¾ [x, 7 NCAA], 63-3¼) (18.93, 19.08, 18.96, 18.94, 18.99, 19.28);
2. Jorinde van Klinken’ (Or-Neth) 60-7¾ (18.48)
(58-8, 59-5¾, 58-1¼, f, 58-6¾, 60-7¾) (17.88, 18.13, 17.71, f, 17.85, 18.48);
3. *Rosa Santana’ (UNLV-DR) 60-3¼ (18.37)
(54-6¾, 59-2, 60-3¼, 57-6¼, 60-2½, 57-6¼) (16.63, 18.03, 18.37, 17.53, 18.35, 17.53);
4. ***Alida van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 59-8½ (18.20) PR
(56-4½, 57-8½, 59-8½, f, f, f) (17.18, 17.59, 18.20, f, f, f);
5. *Jaida Ross (Or) 59-5 (18.11)
(56-6½, 59-5, f, 56-8, 59-3½, 58-8) (17.23, 18.11, f, 17.27, 18.07, 17.88);
6. *Mallory Kauffman (PennSt) 59-¾ (18.00) PR
(f, 57-2¾ PR, 57-6½ PR, 54-8¼, 59-¾ PR, f) (f, 17.44, 17.54, 16.67, 18.00, f);
7. Josie Schaefer (Wi) 58-10¾ (17.95)
(54-10, 57-8¼, 58-10¾, 57-10¼, 57-¼, f) (16.71, 17.58, 17.95, 17.63, 17.38, f);
8. Hannah Hall (Mia) 58-10¼ (17.94)
(57-3, 57-2¾, 58-5¾, 56-11½, 58-10¼, 58-4¾) (17.45, 17.44, 17.82, 17.36, 17.94, 17.80);
9. *Veronica Fraley (Vand) 58-6½ (17.84) PR; 10. *KeAyla Dove (NTx) 57-6½ (17.54); 11. Erna Gunnarsdóttir’ (Rice-Ice) 56-6¾ (17.24); 12. **Gabby McDonald (CoSt) 56-6¾ (17.24) PR; 13. Chelsea Igberaese (Al) 56-1¾ (17.11); 14. Ana da Silva’ (Ga-Bra) 55-11¾ (17.06); 15. *Marilyn Nwora (Tx) 55-7½ (16.95); 16. *Sarah Omoregie’ (Harv-GB) 55-5½ (16.90); 17. **Mya Lesnar (CoSt) 54-10¼ (16.72); 18. **Jayden Ulrich (In) 54-8¾ (16.68); 19. Cherisse Murray’ (Al-Tri) 54-4 (16.56); 20. Taylor Latimer (Nb) 53-11 (16.43); 21. Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 53-11 (16.43); 22. Essence Henderson (VaT) 50-10¼ (15.50);… 3f—*Myejoi Williams (IlSt), ***Opal Jackson (MiSt).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 3–14)