The 2011 season is already upon as. As students finish taking their finals, they have also been busy throwing at a number of early season competitions across the country.

The women have already produced some impressive marks, led by three NCAA automatic qualifying throws. Two-time defending NCAA weight throw champion D'Ana McCarty (Louisville) won a close competition against potential title threat Jeneva McCall (Southern Illinois). McCall, who had the third best mark in the country last season and placed fourth at the NCAA championships, threw a two-foot personal best but still lost by less than a foot at the SIU Saluki Fast Start.

The surprising national leader for women is Felisha Johnson (Indiana State). Last year, Johnson had a personal best of 19.89m and just missed making the NCAA Championships. Her huge throw of 22.31m this weekend ranks her first in the nation. Another impressive early marks was by true freshman Erin Atkinson (Southern Illinois). With a personal best of under 15 meters in high school last year, Atkinson came on strong in the hammer and is already near 20-meters with the weight.

Division II Ashland University continues to show its strength on the men's side. In the past two weeks they have produced three throwers over 20.50m led by Ryan Loughney at 21.74m and Mike Jeffrey at 21.25m.

Collegiate Men's Weight Throw  
========================================================================== 
    Name                    Year School                  Result            
==========================================================================
  1 Ryan Loughney             JR Ashland (D2)            21.74m   71-04.00
  2 Mike Jeffery              SR Ashland (D2)            21.25m   69-08.75
  3 Garrett Grey              SO Ashland (D2)            20.63m   67-08.25
  4 J.C. Lambert              JR Southern Illinois       20.49m   67-02.75
  5 Bryan Kolacz              SR Keene State             20.04m   65-09.00
  6 Matt Pfleger              SR Kent State              19.98m   65-06.75
  7 Knut Syversen             SR Memphis                 19.55m   64-01.75
  8 Alex Padgett              SR Clemson                 19.53m   64-01.00
  9 Aaron Crabtree            JR Kent State              19.27m   63-02.75
 10 Malcolm Styers            SR Appalachian State       19.08m   62-07.25
 11 Brandon Pounds            JR Indiana State           19.01m   62-04.50
Cutoff: 19.00m
 
Post Collegiate Men's Weight Throw (American's Only)
========================================================================== 
    Name                    Year School                  Result            
==========================================================================
  1 Jake Freeman                 NYAC                    21.87m   71-09.00
  2 Robert Klenk                 Unattached              21.80m   71-06.25
  3 Brian Richotte               Unattached              20.57m   67-06.00
Cutoff: 19.00m

Collegiate Women's Weight Throw  
========================================================================== 
    Name                    Year School                  Result            
==========================================================================
  1 Felisha Johnson           JR Indiana State           22.31m   73-02.50
  2 D'Ana McCarty             SR Louisville              22.21m   72-10.50
  3 Jeneva McCall             JR Southern Illinois       21.97m   72-01.00
  4 Mallory Barnes            SR Dayton                  20.18m   66-02.50
  5 Kelsey Hanley             SR Indiana State           19.73m   64-08.75
  6 Erin Atkinson             FR Southern Illinois       19.71m   64-08.00
  7 Gwen Berry                SR Southern Illinois       19.53m   64-01.00
  8 Laishema Hampton          JR Iowa State              19.25m   63-02.00
  9 Thanithia Billings        SR Princeton               19.21m   63-00.25
 10 Kerry ALlen               SR Dayton                  18.97m   62-03.00
 11 Ashley Hutchinson         JR Wyoming                 18.86m   61-10.50
 12 Brittany Smith            SO Illinois State          18.79m   61-07.75
 13 Kristin Cameron           JR Northwood (D2)          18.37m   60-03.25
 14 Danielle Frere            JR Iowa State              18.30m   60-00.50
 15 Emma Ruggiero             SR Princeton               18.30m   60-00.50
 16 Lauren Noe                JR South Florida           18.20m   59-08.50
 17 Olga Ciura                SR Southern Illinois       18.19m   59-08.25
 18 Katie Sopher              SR Ashland                 18.18m   59-07.75
 19 Kim Fortney               SO Southern Illinoi        18.14m   59-06.25
 20 Althea Charles            SR Northeastern            18.13m   59-05.75
Cutoff: 18.00m

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