SEVERAL OF THE TOP CONTENDERS here burned for redemption after soul-crushing finishes to their Olympic seasons. Brooke Andersen, the ’22 World champ, was unable to get a throw out of the cage at last year’s OT final and didn’t make the team for Paris. Neither did 2-time WC medalist Janee’ Kassanavoid, who placed 6th. Rachel Richeson finished in the dreaded fourth spot, 9 inches short of making her first U.S. squad.
DeAnna Price, the ’19 World champ, did make it to Paris, but an undiagnosed hamstring tear and an odd placement of the right-side cage door in the Stade de France combined to sabotage her dream of finally taking an Olympic medal. Among those with a serious shot of making this year’s team for Tokyo, the only one who had finished ’24 on a high note was Annette Echikunwoke, who won her first USATF title and rode those endorphins to silver in Paris.
All 5 of those women would be legitimate medal contenders this year: if they could make the team, a task which got a little easier when Andersen was recently granted a Wild Card based on her finish as the top hammer performer on the ’24 Continental Tour.
As round 1 began under a bright early-afternoon sun, Echikunwoke 234-11 (71.61), Kassanavoid 244-7 (74.55) and Richeson 244-8 (74.57) secured spots in the top 8. Price did them one better, launching her opener out to 257-0 (78.33).
That left only two places up for grabs, and the tension showed. During rounds 2 through 5, Kassanavoid, Richeson and Echikunwoke gave the cage a shellacking while trying in vain to improve on their openers. Janeah Stewart, meanwhile, entered the fray by popping a season’s best 239-1 (72.87) in round 3.
As the final frame began, Echikunwoke stood 6th, Stewart 5th, Kassanavoid 4th, and Richeson 3rd. Andersen’s third-round 246-6 (75.14) put her in 2nd behind Price.
Echikunwoke was the first to bow out. Normally a great clutch thrower, she reached only 222-10 (67.93) on her final try. After Stewart fouled her final toss, Kassanavoid, Richeson, Andersen and Price were on the team. DeAnna celebrated her fourth U.S. title by launching a season’s best 257-7 (78.53).
After contemplating retirement when last year’s Olympic debacle left her “broken” both physically and mentally, Price says she now feels like her old self again. “I was lost after the Games,” she reflected after the comp, “but thanks to my family, my husband JC, and to God, I feel like myself again. I’m happy with what I threw today, but there is more, a lot more, in the tank.”
WOMEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
(July 31)
1. DeAnna Price (Nik/NYAC) 257-7 (78.53)
(257-0, 248-9, 245-2, 252-3, 255-2, 257-7) (78.33, 75.83, 74.74, 76.88, 77.77, 78.53);
2. Brooke Andersen (Nik) 246-6 (75.14)
(237-3, f, 246-6, f, f, f) (72.32, f, 75.14, f, f, f);
3. Rachel Richeson (unat) 244-8 (74.57)
(244-8, f, f, f, f, 243-0) (74.57, f, f, f, f, 74.08);
4. Janee’ Kassanavoid (Nik) 244-7 (74.55)
(244-7, 233-3, f, 234-2, 224-3, 241-8) (74.55, 71.09, f, 71.38, 68.36, 73.66);
5. Janeah Stewart (NYAC) 239-1 (72.87)
(224-10, 234-6, 239-1, 226-4, f, f) (68.52, 71.48, 72.87, 68.99, f, f);
6. Annette Echikunwoke (adi) 234-11 (71.61)
(234-11, f, 234-8, 232-9, f, 222-10) (71.61, f, 71.53, 70.95, f, 67.93);
7. Jillian Shippee (unat) 234-2 (71.37)
(229-2, 233-2, 234-2, f, f, f) (69.87, 71.08, 71.37, f, f, f);
8. Jalani Davis (unat) 232-10 (70.98)
(232-10, f, 227-5, 220-3, 221-9, 224-0) (70.98, f, 69.32, 67.13, 67.59, 68.28);
9. Erin Reese (Velaasa) 229-9 (70.02); 10. Shelby Moran (unat) 225-3 (68.67); 11. Madi Malone (Velaasa) 221-4 (67.47); 12. Emma Robbins (OkSt) 214-6 (65.39); 13. Kenna Curry (ND) 212-4 (64.73); 14. Giavonna Meeks (Tx) 211-7 (64.51); 15. Emily Fink (ArmyWP) 207-6 (63.25).
