AS IN A PROPER fireworks show, the javelin ladies saved the good stuff for the end.
Prior to that, there was not a lot of action as TCU’s Irene Jepkemboi, Rice’s McKyla Van Der Westhuizen, and Bucknell’s Evelyn Bliss settled into the top 3 spots early and stayed put for several rounds.
Bliss came into Eugene with a refreshingly healthy attitude for someone so good (’25 USA champ) so young (she’s about to turn 20). Her goal, she said, was just to make the finals at this year’s NCAAs after finishing 12th and 13th the past two seasons. That relaxed demeanor was put to the test in round 5 when a phantom foul wiped out a throw that might have given her the lead, but she shook if off like a champ and later vaulted ahead of Jepkemboi and Van Der Westhuizen with a sixth-round effort of 197-9 (60.28).
Van Der Westhuizen, now sitting 3rd, had next ups. The senior from South Africa had PRed at the ’24 NCAAs, and she’d need another here to jump Bliss. Luckily, her temperament trends confident pretty much 24/7.
“She is,” says Rice coach, Brek Christensen, “the most bubbly, positive person I’ve ever met. In 4 years, I’ve never seen her in a bad mood.”
Nor would he now, as Van Der Westhuizen launched the lance 199-8 (60.87) to take over 1st place.
“I knew I couldn’t overthink,” she said afterwards. “So I just ripped it.”
The final throw belonged to Jepkemboi, who produced a season’s best of 197-4 (60.16) which, before the measurement was posted, may have knocked a year or two off of Christensen’s life expectancy, but ultimately left her in 3rd.
For American jav fans, Bliss’s performance was further evidence that she might some day follow Kara Winger’s path to an international podium.
She seems to possess the toughness required to excel in an event that is notoriously hard on the body, saying that “There have definitely been meets where I’ve had to tell myself, ‘You’re going to hurt, so you can either hurt and suck or hurt and be good. It’s up to you.’”
And that, ladies and gentleman, is the javelin.
WOMEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
(June 11)
1. McKyla Van Der Westhuizen’ (Rice-SA) 199-8 (60.87) PR
(194-4, 190-0, 190-7, f, 185-7, 199-8) (59.23, 57.93, 58.11, f, 56.58, 60.87);
2. *Evelyn Bliss (Buck) 197-9 (60.28)
(184-3, 183-2, 183-9, 190-6, f, 197-9) (56.16, 55.82, 56.02, 58.07, f, 60.28);
3. *Irene Jepkemboi’ (TCU-Ken) 197-4 (60.16)
(178-6, 196-6, 179-2, 178-6, 187-0, 197-4) (54.40, 59.91, 54.63, 54.41, 57.01, 60.16);
4. Valentina Barrios’ (Mo-Col) 187-6 (57.17)
(170-10, 180-9, 175-6, 181-4, 182-3, 187-6) (52.08, 55.10, 53.49, 55.28, 55.55, 57.17);
5. *Lilly Urban’ (Nv-Ger) 183-4 (55.88)
(167-5, 180-0, 164-4, 171-6, 183-4, 164-5) (51.02, 54.87, 50.08, 52.28, 55.88, 50.11);
6. Christiana Ellina’ (Va-Cyp) 180-5 (54.99) PR
(170-5, 180-5, 176-5, 165-2, 171-10, f) (51.94, 54.99, 53.79, 50.35, 52.39, f);
7. Shea Greene (Prin) 180-1 (54.90)
(180-0, 174-4, 180-1, f, 176-11, 176-11) (54.87, 53.15, 54.90, f, 53.92, 53.93);
8. **Arndís Óskarsdóttir’ (FlInt-Ice) 179-7 (54.75)
(173-3, 177-11, 173-5, 174-11, 175-1, 179-7) (52.80, 54.22, 52.87, 53.32, 53.37, 54.75);
9. Jana Lowka’ (Nb-Ger) 177-3 (54.02); 10. *Alexis Guillory (LSU) 173-0 (52.73); 11. *Saydi Orange (Wa) 170-2 (51.86); 12. **Eleanor Partrick (Al) 169-6 (51.67); 13. *McKenzie Fairchild (TxAM) 167-9 (51.13); 14. Katelyn Fairchild (TxAM) 167-8 (51.10); 15. Elizabeth Bailey (Vand) 164-5 (50.12); 16. *Erin Tack (Az) 163-7 (49.87); 17. ***Sophia Mazzoni (Aub) 162-11 (49.67); 18. **Kristen Jay (Kent) 161-3 (49.16); 19. Skylar Ciccolini (Mo) 160-2 (48.82); 20. Emma Wapshare (Vt) 160-1 (48.81); 21. ***Greyson Glivinski (Or) 158-10 (48.43); 22. **Charlize Goody’ (TxSt-Aus) 158-6 (48.33); 23. Deisiane Teixeira’ (Mia-Bra) 157-3 (47.92); 24. **Spencer Young (NC) 145-5 (44.32).
