Findlay, OH – The University of Findlay will host its fifth annual Elite Weight Throw competition aspart of the Findlay Indoor Track & Field Open on Friday, February 4. An outstanding field has beenassembled including Olympians A.G. Krueger and Libor Charfreitag. The event is slated for 7:00pm in theuniversity’s Malcolm Athletic Center.

Nike’s A.G. Krueger is the 2010 champion, but will have to hold off an outstanding field to keep his title.Krueger is a five-time USA champion in the weight throw with a personal best of 24.78m (81’3 ½”). Heis also a four-time USA champion and two-time Olympian in the hammer. He was the 2001 NCAA IInational champion in the weight throw for Morningside College.

Three-time Olympian and six-time world championship competitor Libor Charfreitag of Slovakia willlook to get the title back as he was the 2009 champion. He is the fieldhouse record holder at 24.86m(81’6 ¾”) and boasts a personal best of 25.68m (84’3”). He also has a season best of 24.51m (80’5”).Charfreitag was the bronze medalist in the 2007 World Championships in the hammer. He currentlythrows for Mizuno.

USA National Qualifier Garland Porter will look to improve upon his third place finishes from the last twoElite. Porter currently has the best throw in the United States this year at 23.97m (78’7 ¾”). He finishedfifth at the USA Championships in 2010 and third in 2009. Porter was a All-American for Tennessee.

Steve Bartholomew will make his third appearance at the Elite Weight Throw, finishing seventh a yearago. He was a NCAA I national qualifier for Valparaiso and now competes for Dominator Athletics.Bartholomew was the winner of last week’s Findlay Classic.

The top three NCAA II collegians will also compete – all from Ashland University. Ryan Loughneyhas the best throw this season in Division II with a toss of 21.74m (71’4”). This ranks #2 amongst allcollegians regardless of division and is #6 in the USA. Mike Jeffery has a season best of 21.25m (69’8 ¾”)which ranks #2 in NCAA II, #3 collegiately, and #8 in the US. The third Eagle in the field is Grey Garrettwho ranks #3 in NCAA II, #9 collegiately, and #12 in the US has a season best of 20.63m (67’8 ¼”).

Making their first appearance in the Eilte will be Jerome Bortoluzzi, Brian Richotte, and Anthony Agrusa.France’s Bortoluzzi has a personal best of 22.08m (72’5 ¼”) and a hammer PB of 77.33m (253'8”).Richotte, a graduate of Radford University and the University of Oregon, has a personal best of 21.13m(69’4”) and while Agrusa, representing Michigan State University has tossed the weight 19.96m (65’6”).

The Elite Weight Throw will be just a part of a busy weekend of track & field at The University of Findlay.In addition to the Findlay Open, the Oilers will host the NCAA II Team Challenge which will showcasesome of the top DII athletes in the country.

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