NCAA Women’s Discus — van Klinken Threepeats

Jorinde van Klinken closed out her collegiate career with a pair of meet records. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

THE COMETHROUGH collegiate thrower of recent seasons, Oregon’s Jorinde van Klinken closed out her NCAA career with her third successive win, the first two coming while representing Arizona State.

The 23-year-old Dutch star, holder of the CR in the discus and the indoor CR in the shot, capped her season with a pair of meet records.

As the third thrower in flight 2, she opened her day with a safe 201-5 (61.41) to snatch the lead from Florida State soph Caisa-Marie Lindfors, the first-flight leader at 194-7 (59.32). Lindfors’ throw would turn out to be her best of the day, placing her 4th.

Trailing van Klinken in the first round were Gabby McDonald of Colorado State and Florida’s Alida van Daalen, both at 186-9 (56.92) but with McDonald a centimeter ahead at 56.93. They were 3rd and 4th, behind Lindfors.

Van Klinken hit her first meet record with her second round 213-11 (65.20), the only thrower to improve on her opening mark. In round 3, van Klinken put her winning throw of 215-0 (65.55) in the books. Throwing after her, McDonald improved her 3rd place to 189-6 (57.76), her best on the day. Van Daalen moved into 2nd with her best of the day, a 196-9 (59.96).

At the end of the prelims, T&FN formchart favorite Veronica Fraley had failed to advance off her 173-7 (52.91) opener, which she had followed with two fouls.

As the second thrower in the final three rounds, Virginia senior Ashley Anumba struck silver with a PR 200-6 (61.13), good enough to end the day 2nd ahead of van Daalen and Lindfors.

While the rest of the field vied for points, van Klinken tried to improve her record, falling short, but amazingly impressive. Her final three throws of 209-10 (63.97), 210-2 (64.06), and 214-4 (65.34) gave her three marks beyond the meet record at the start of the day, and all six beyond the best of runner-up Anumba. Van Klinken’s worst throw would have sufficed for the win by 11 inches (28cm).

In the history of women’s collegiate championships including the early years of the DGWS (1969–72) and the AIAW (1973–82), van Klinken is only the third woman to win 3 discus championships: Ria Stalman (UTEP-Netherlands) scored AIAW wins in ’78, ’79 & ’81, and UCLA’s Seilala Sua was a 4-time NCAA champion 1997–2000.

Said the winner, “Obviously, it‘s great to win another title, you know that’s always something to be super proud of. It’s really just the icing on the cake of all these years of hard work, and it’s amazing to me to end my collegiate career this way.”


WOMEN’S DISCUS RESULTS

June 10

1. Jorinde van Klinken’ (Or-Neth) 215-0 (65.55) (x, 9 C; 1, 1 NCAA) (MR)

(201-5, 213-11 [MR], 215-0 [MR], 209-10, 210-2, 214-4) (61.41, 65.20, 65.55, 63.97, 64.06, 65.34);

2. Ashley Anumba’ (Va-Ngr) 200-6 (61.13)

(185-1, 185-3, 180-2, 200-6, f, 163-2) (56.42, 56.47, 54.91, 61.13, f, 49.74);

3. ***Alida van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 196-9 (59.96)

(186-9, 183-10, 196-9, 187-2, 193-0, 173-7) (56.92, 56.03, 59.96, 57.06, 58.84, 52.92);

4. **Caisa-Marie Lindfors’ (FlSt-Swe) 194-7 (59.32)

(194-7, 190-7, 194-7, f, 187-3, f) (59.32, 58.08, 59.32, f, 57.07, f);

5. Samantha Lenton’ (Mem-Aus) 193-5 (58.95)

(184-1, f, 186-2, 183-0, 192-2, 193-5) (56.11, f, 56.75, 55.78, 58.59, 58.95);

6. *Estel Valeanu’ (Harv-Isr) 191-1 (58.25)

(177-9, f, 191-1, 184-8, 183-5, f) (54.18, f, 58.25, 56.30, 55.92, f);

7. **Gabi McDonald (CoSt) 189-6 (57.76)

(186-9, 182-5, 189-6, 184-8, 185-4, 177-4) (56.93, 55.61, 57.76, 56.30, 56.51, 54.07);

8. **Jade Whitfield (OrSt) 189-1 (57.63) (f, 184-9, 189-1, f, 175-6, 184-1) (f, 56.31, 57.63, f, 53.50, 56.10);

9. Essence Henderson (VaT) 184-8 (56.28); 10. **Michaelle Valentin (FlInt) 184-1 (56.12); 11. **Lyvante Su’Emai’ (UCLA-Aus) 182-8 (55.69); 12. Josie Schaefer (Wi) 180-4 (54.96); 13. **Faith Bender (OhSt) 177-6 (54.11); 14. **Chrystal Herpin (Tx) 175-9 (53.57); 15. Zaresha Neal (BG) 174-7 (53.23); 16. *Kaia Harris (Mo) 173-8 (52.93); 17. *Veronica Fraley (Vand) 173-7 (52.91); 18. *Jordyn Bryant (Fres) 171-5 (52.25); 19. ***Tapenisa Havea’ (Az-NZ) 170-9 (52.05); 20. Kristina Rakocevic’ (Mia-Mne) 170-5 (51.94); 21. ***Klaire Kovatch (CoSt) 169-11 (51.81); 22. ***Jamora Alves’ (StJ-Grn) 164-4 (50.08); 23. **Taylor Kesner (IlSt) 163-2 (49.75); 24. Emily March (IaSt) 161-11 (49.36).

(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 1, 7–8)