SHE HAD WON the Indoor title with a PR so Samantha Noennig figured to be strongly in the running for this crown after a season that began with three straight outdoor-PR meets. Yet after 4 rounds it didn’t look anything like a good day for the Sun Devil soph.
Ohio State’s Sade Olatoye took the lead in round 1 with her =PR 58-8 (17.88); Noennig languished in 3rd at 55-9¼ (17.00). Then formchart favorite Portious Warren launched a 59-2¾ (18.05) to take over in round 2. Noennig only hit 54-3¾ (16.54), slipping to 7th. Alabama’s Warren kept the pressure on with a third-round 59-2 (18.03) and an improvement to 59-5 (18.11) in round 4.
By that time, Noennig had gotten out to 56-8 (17.27), good for just 5th. She said, “My first few throws were not so good, and I’ve been kind of struggling in practice to make sure I hit it right, and that showed in my first few. Then I just kind of got mad and was like, ‘I need to hit one.’” She entered the ring determined and launched the ball out to a PR, joining the 59-foot club at 59-6¼ (18.14) to take the lead by a mere 3cm. “I was able to pull through,” she said. “I wasn’t happy with where I was and I knew I needed to throw farther. I wasn’t going to go down easy, so I didn’t let it happen.”
In the final round Noennig ended her day with a 58-1 (17.70). Kansas State’s Taylor Latimer lofted the ball to 57-11¾ (17.67) for a move to 4th behind Olatoye. Warren, on her final throw, hit just 56-8 (17.27).
Said the winner, who was 7th last year, “It’s incredible. I train with some great people, and they prepared me for this day and what I needed to do. Last year, I was just excited to get on the podium, and this year I was not going to be happy unless I won, so I’m glad I was able to pull through in the end.”
NCAA WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS
FINAL
(June 06)
1. **Samantha Noennig (AzSt) 59-6¼ (18.14) PR (AmCL) (10, x NCAA)
(55-9¼, 54-3¾, 56-1, 56-8, 59-6¼, 58-1) (17.00, 16.55, 17.09, 17.27, 18.14, 17.70);
2. Portious Warren’ (Al) 59-5 (18.11)
(54-10, 59-2¾, 59-2, 59-5, 59-0, 56-8) (16.71, 18.05, 18.03, 18.11, 17.98, 17.27);
3. *Sade Olatoye (OhSt) 58-8 (17.88) =PR; outdoor PR
(58-8, 58-4½, 55-0, 55-10¼, 55-6¼, 56-6) (17.88, 17.79, 16.76, 17.02, 16.92, 17.22);
4. **Taylor Latimer (KsSt) 57-11¾ (17.67)
(51-11¾, 56-8½, 56-9¼, 54-10¼, f, 57-11¾) (15.84, 17.28, 17.30, 16.72, f, 17.67);
5. ***Akealy Moton (NDSt) 57-3½ (17.46) PR
(49-5¾, 56-9¼, f, 57-3½, 55-7½, f) (15.08, 17.30, f, 17.46, 16.95, f);
6. *Khayla Dawson (In) 56-6¾ (17.24)
(55-11¾, 54-3¼, f, 56-6¾, 56-1, 55-1) (17.06, 16.54, f, 17.24, 17.09, 16.79);
7. **Alyssa Wilson (UCLA) 56-2½ (17.13)
(54-2¾, 56-2½, f, f, f, 54-11¼) (16.53, 17.13, f, f, f, 16.74);
8. ***Madison Pollard (In) 55-7 (16.94) PR;
9. Annette Echikunwoke (Cinc) 55-¾ (16.78);
10. Aliyah Gustafson (BG) 54-6¾ (16.63);
11. Haley Teel (Al) 54-6½ (16.62) PR;
12. ***Adelaide Aquilla (OhSt) 54-5¼ (16.59);
13. Banke Oginni (Wi) 53-9¾ (16.40);
14. *Meia Gordon (Ok) 53-4½ (16.27);
15. ***Tess Keyzers (Mn) 53-2¾ (16.22);
16. Cassaundra Roper (InSt) 53-¾ (16.17);
17. *Nia Britt (Ia) 53-0 (16.15);
18. ***Gabrielle Bailey (Kent) 51-11¼ (15.83);
19. **Erin Howard (CMi) 51-7¾ (15.74);
20. ***Faith Ette (Ok) 51-5¾ (15.69);
21. Ashlie Blake (UCLA) 51-5½ (15.68);
22. Kayla Melgar (ACU) 50-¾ (15.26);
23. **Nickolette Dunbar (Al) 49-3¾ (15.03);
24. ***Tarynn Sieg (CoSt) 48-10 (14.88).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: =3, 4)
