WITH THREE THROWERS in the collegiate all-time top 10 in the field, led by defending champion Kenneth Ikeji of Harvard, quality marks were expected — and delivered.
After Southeast Missouri’s Parker Feuerborn heaved out a 234-4 (71.42) marker in the first flight, anticipation built for the efforts of second-flight throwers Ikeji (the No. 6 all-time collegian with his 255-8/77.92 winner in ’23), Cal’s senior transfer from the NAIA’s British Columbia, Rowan Hamilton (No. 8 all-time at 253-1/77.16) and junior Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge (No. 10 all-time at 252-7/76.99).
Like Ikeji and Hamilton, Minnesota’s Greek frosh Ángelos Mantzouránis came in undefeated this spring, with a 247-10 (75.55) best to win at the Drake Relays.
In frame 1 of flight 2 Knight came out hard with 242-9 (74.00). Two spots later in the order Mantzouránis hit 236-6 (72.10), putting both ahead of Ikeji at 235-1 (71.66) and Feuerborn.
USC junior Nikólaos Polychroníou’s 225-9 (69.93) and Hamilton’s 229-4 (69.90) left them 6th and 7th with Israel Oloyede of Grand Canyon in 5th (230-4/70.20).
In round 2, Ikeji and Hamilton struck. First the defending champ reached 246-2 (75.05) to take the lead. Four throws later Hamilton spun out a 249-4 (76.00) blast.
Favorite versus defending champ. But not quite yet. To open frame 3, Oloyede’s 246-9 (75.20) PR split them in the order moving the senior to No. 7 all-time American collegian.
That seemed to wake up Ikeji. As the next thrower the Briton whirled a 253-0 (77.12), back in charge. But only for 3 more throws.
Sixth in the order, Hamilton stepped up and sent one out to 253-2 (77.18), a PR by an inch. That was that at the top.
Knight was unable to improve on his opener, and in frame 4 Polychroniou passed him with 243-4 (74.18). In round 5 Mantzouránis’s 247-8 (75.50) passed Polychroníou and Oloyede.
As leader Hamilton put up two more 76-meter throws in the final 3 frames, Ikeji struggled. Oloyede improved in round 6 to 247-0 (75.29) advancing to =No. 6 all-time American collegian.
Hamilton’s win followed three straight Cal women’s titles for Camryn Rogers 2019–22, but was the first hammer win by a Bear man since Jack Merchant in 1922.
Hamilton said, “I was hoping to keep building throughout the series. I didn’t spend too much time thinking about it, but on throwing a good balanced throw. When I came to Eugene as a high schooler, I wasn’t always consistent, but that has been a major focus, not only for this year but years building up to this.”
Best-ever marks-for-NCAA-place were set for 2nd and places 4–9.
MEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
(June 05)
1. Rowan Hamilton’ (Cal-Can) 253-2 (77.18) PR (8, x C)
(229-4, 249-4, 253-2, 250-2, f, 250-1) (69.90, 76.00, 77.18, 76.25, f, 76.23);
2. *Kenneth Ikeji’ (Harv-GB) 253-0 (77.12)
(235-1, 246-2, 253-0, f, 236-3, f) (71.66, 75.05, 77.12, f, 72.00, f);
3. ***Ángelos Mantzouránis’ (Mn-Gre) 247-8 (75.50)
(236-6, f, 236-6, f, 247-8, 240-10) (72.10, f, 72.09, f, 75.50, 73.40);
4. Israel Oloyede (GCan) 247-0 (75.29) PR (=6, x AmC)
(230-4, 238-7, 246-9, 240-6, 240-7, 247-0) (70.20, 72.72, 75.20, 73.30, 73.32, 75.29);
5. *Nikólaos Polychroníou’ (USC-Gre) 243-4 (74.18)
(229-5, 221-6, 237-9, 243-4, 240-3, 236-10) (69.93, 67.51, 72.46, 74.18, 73.22, 72.20);
6. *Trey Knight (CSUN) 242-9 (74.00)
(242-9, 234-6, f, f, 234-8, f) (74.00, 71.49, f, f, 71.54, f);
7. **Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ms) 238-10 (72.81) PR
(f, 238-10, 233-4, 232-4, 224-5, 231-7) (f, 72.81, 71.13, 70.82, 68.41, 70.59);
8. Parker Feuerborn (SEMo) 234-4 (71.42)
(231-3, 234-4, 230-9, 229-2, f, 227-9) (70.48, 71.42, 70.33, 69.86, f, 69.43);
9. **Jeremiah Nubbe’ (Tx-Can) 233-6 (71.17)
(221-6, 229-10, 225-7, 226-4, 233-6, 220-8) (67.52, 70.06, 68.76, 69.00, 71.17, 67.27);
10. *Anthony Barmes’ (Drake-NZ) 229-9 (70.04); 11. Bayley Campbell’ (Ok-GB) 227-0 (69.21); 12. Christian Johnson (Duke) 225-9 (68.80); 13. Ivar Moisander’ (Cal-Swe) 223-6 (68.13); 14. Aimar Palma Simo’ (Duke-Spa) 223-0 (67.99); 15. *Sean Mockler’ (In-Ire) 222-10 (67.92); 16. Kris Emig (UCLA) 222-1 (67.70); 17. *Robert Decker (Man) 219-11 (67.04) PR; 18. John Hicks (Lib) 218-3 (66.52); 19. Shaun Kerry’ (Rice-GB) 217-9 (66.37); 20. Jake Dalton (Ms) 216-9 (66.06); 21. **John Fay (Va) 214-0 (65.23); 22. William Gross (Fl) 212-2 (64.68); 23. Joshua Boamah (Navy) 204-8 (62.39);… 3f—Brad Morell (Corn).
