The PRE-MEET FAVORITES were DeAnna Price, Brooke Andersen and Janee’ Kassanavoid, and ’22 world champion Andersen led the qualifying with her opening throw of 250-2 (76.25). Price reached 247-9 (75.52) after a first-round 238-11, while Kassanavoid placed 5th with her only throw of 234-11 (71.61). Ahead of her were Annette Echikunwoke with 238-8 (72.74) and Rachel Tanczos 238-1 (72.56). The top rated thrower missing from the final was Jillian Shippee, rated 7th on the T&FN formchart. Her 214-8 (65.49) placed 14th, well short of her seasonal best of 235-6.
The final, like the qualifying round, was held outside the stadium, but shown on screen inside. Andersen looked most impressive in warming up with 250-foot-plus throws. However, of the top 5 qualifiers, only Price with 244-4 (74.49), and Echikunwoke with a seasonal best of 245-0 (74.68) produced fair throws in the opening round. Tanczos managed 219-11 (67.03) in the second frame, moving into 5th, but Kassanavoid and Andersen, 5–6 in the throwing order, again fouled, reminding some viewers of Andersen’s failing to qualify at the Budapest World Championships. Kassanavoid managed a tentative looking 225-6 (68.75), which moved her to 4th, and ensured three more throws, but Andersen again fouled, all 3 of her throws having wound up in the netting. Tanczos became the third thrower past 70 meters with 232-10 (70.98) and Price had the best mark of round 3 with an improvement to 244-6 (74.52).
The sole major change in the second half of the competition was Erin Reese moving from 4th (227-3 in round 3) to 3rd with her sixth-round 233-7 (71.21). Janeah Stewart moved to 5th with her closing 230-9 (70.34), while Kassanavoid wound up in 6th with her penultimate throw of 227-1 (69.46).
While Echikunwoke and Price have rankings that ensure selection, Reese was ranked 42nd on the World Athletics rankings of June 18, but her standing may have improved sufficiently by early July to see her within the top-32 in the world. If not, then 4th placed Tanczos, currently rated No. 15, would be the third team member.
Neither Echikunwoke, Reese nor Tanczos have previously made an Olympic team, yet this was a third selection for Price, with the two previous Trials seeing PRs for her, including the American Record of 263-6 (80.21) in 2021.
Winner Echikunwoke — a ’19 Cincinnati grad who placed 9th at both the NCAA and USATF that year and 3rd to make the Worlds team in ’22 — afterwards said, “The mindset was to relax. Usually, the first throw is the most relaxed.… and that one won me the meet. I’m so happy.”
WOMEN’S HAMMER RESULTS
FINAL (June 23)
1. Annette Echikunwoke (unat) 245-0 (74.68)
(245-0, f, f, 228-11, 238-6) (74.68, f, f, 69.77, 72.71);
2. DeAnna Price (Nik/NYAC) 244-6 (74.52)
(244-4, f, 244-6, 241-0, 242-9, f) (74.49, f, 74.52, 73.46, 74.01, f);
3. Erin Reese (Velaasa) 233-7 (71.21)
(223-3, 225-7, 227-3, 226-0, 220-8, 233-7) (68.06, 68.76, 69.26, 68.90, 67.27, 71.21);
4. Rachel Tanczos (Velaasa) 232-10 (70.98)
(f, 219-11, 232-10, f, f, f)
(f, 67.03, 70.98, f, f, f);
5. Janeah Stewart (NYAC) 230-9 (70.34)
(217-5, 213-6, 219-7, f, 223-2, 230-9) (66.27, 65.07, 66.92, f, 68.02, 70.34);
6. Janee Kassanavoid (Nik) 227-11 (69.46)
(f, f, 225-6, f, 227-11, 209-11) (f, f, 68.75, f, 69.46, 63.99);
7. Shelby Frank (Mn) 225-4 (68.68)
(223-7, f, 217-6, 216-9, 225-4, f) (68.15, f, 66.31, 66.07, 68.68, f);
8. Madi Malone (Velaasa) 220-7 (67.25)
(216-10, 220-7, 217-5, 218-3, 217-5, 211-7) (66.09, 67.25, 66.26, 66.53, 66.26, 64.50);
9. Shelby Moran (Or) 216-4 (65.94); 10. Emily Fink (Army) 196-2 (59.79); 11. Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 196-0 (59.74);… 3f—Brooke Andersen (Nik/NYAC).
QUALIFYING (June 21)
Qualifiers—Andersen 250-2 (76.25), Price 247-9 (75.52), Echikunwoke 238-8 (72.74), Tanczos 238-1 (72.56), Janee’ Kassanavoid (Nik) 234-11 (71.61), Reese 232-4 (70.82), Moran 229-6 (69.95), Frank 226-7 (69.07) PR, Stewart 226-5 (69.03), Fink 217-5 (66.28) PR, Malone 216-7 (66.01), Mitchell 214-10 (65.49);
Non-qualifiers—Samaria McDonald (PennSt) 214-9 (65.46), Jillian Shippee (unat) 214-8 (65.43), Elisia Lancaster (Shore) 214-5 (65.37), Lisa Wilson (TS) 209-6 (63.86), Giavonna Meeks (unat) 209-2 (63.76), Monique Hardy (KsSt) 209-1 (63.73), Hawa Mahama (UCLA) 208-10 (63.65), Katherine Powers (Ky) 206-7 (62.98), Chloe Lindeman (unat) 204-1 (62.22), Kassidy Gallagher (Ok) 197-5 (60.19), Autavia Fluker (unat) 196-9 (59.98);… 3f—Mari Shavers (unat).