Felisha Johnson (Indiana State) finished of her indoor throwing career with her second NCAA indoor weight throw title. After winning a title in 2011 as an underdog, Johnson struggled last season before but emerged as the favorite over the last month with stronger performances at the Missouri Valley Conference and US Indoor Championships. Johnson not only eclipsed her old personal best three times, but set her new mark nearly a meter ahead of her old personal best of 23.52m (77-02.00). Beth Rohl (Michigan State) also capped off a strong season with another personal best for a second place finish. While both Johnson and Rohl already had secured their places, they still ended the competition with their best throws. Brittney Waller (Clemson) placed third. Fourth place finished Chelsea Cassulo (Arizona State) also had a personal best in the competition.
After Friday's action in the women's weight throw, the men entered the ring on Saturday afternoon. Alexander Ziegler (Virginia Tech) placed third at last year's championships but entered the competition as the favorite after a huger personal best of 23.69m at the ACC Championships in February. However it was Antonio James (Michigan State) that stole the show early. James placed only second to his teammate Lonnie Pugh at the Big 10 Championships, but Pugh fouled out in the first flight and James stepped into the spotlight with a personal best of 22.25m (73-00.00). This led the competition after the first of two flight. Ziegler than opened up the second flight with 22 meters, but did not take the lead until his last throw before finals. Neither Ziegler nor James improved in the finals, leaving Ziegler with his first indoor title, and Michigan State with their second weight throw runner-up in as many days. Redshirt freshman Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Purdue) was the surprise third-place finisher in his first NCAA Championship appearance, while British thrower Nick Miller (Oklahoma State) took fourth with a personal best. The fight for third was quite close, with just more than 8 inches separating third from sixth place.
NCAA Division 1 2013 Indoor Championship
Randal Tyson Track Complex -U of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Ar - 3/8/2013 to 3/9/2013
Men Weight Throw
==========================================================================
Collegiate: C 25.08m 3/9/2007 Kibwe Johnson, Ashland
NCAA Meet: M 24.02m 3/9/2001 Libor Charfreitag, Southern Methodist
Name Year School Finals ==========================================================================
1 Alexander Ziegler SR Virginia Tech 22.46m 73-08.25
22.01m 21.63m 22.46m 21.69m 21.90m 21.45m
2 Antonio James SO Michigan State 22.25m 73-00.00
21.47m 20.09m 22.25m FOUL 21.46m 21.55m
3 Chukwuebuka Enekwechi FR Purdue 21.52m 70-07.25
21.33m 21.52m FOUL 21.12m 20.77m 20.88m
4 Nick Miller SO Oklahoma State 21.48m 70-05.75
19.89m 21.05m 21.48m 20.23m 20.66m 20.48m
5 Jon Lehman JR Minnesota 21.35m 70-00.50
19.29m 21.35m 19.49m 19.22m 19.19m 20.00m
6 Will Barr JR Penn State 21.33m 69-11.75
20.60m 21.11m 21.06m 20.95m 21.15m 21.33m
7 Brandon Pounds SR Indiana State 21.01m 68-11.25
20.81m FOUL 21.01m FOUL FOUL FOUL
8 David Triassi SR Florida 20.68m 67-10.25
20.68m 20.34m FOUL 20.52m 20.64m 20.48m
9 Ethan Dennis JR Michigan 20.53m 67-04.25
18.28m 18.44m 20.53m FOUL FOUL FOUL
10 Tomas Kruzliak FR Virginia Tech 20.46m 67-01.50
20.26m 20.46m 19.37m
11 Jeremy Postin SR Florida 20.44m 67-00.75
12 Micah Hegerle SR Minnesota 20.19m 66-03.00
13 Bradley Sauer SO Southern Illinois 19.99m 65-07.00
14 Isaac Twombly SR Drake 19.01m 62-04.50
-- Montrell Morrow SR East Carolina FOUL
-- Lonnie Pugh SR Michigan State FOUL
Women Weight Throw
==========================================================================
Collegiate: C 25.56m 3/10/2007 Brittany Riley, Southern Illinois
NCAA Meet: M 25.56m 3/10/2007 Brittany Riley, Southern Illinois
Name Year School Finals ==========================================================================
1 Felisha Johnson SR Indiana State 23.52m 77-02.00
21.80m 21.21m 23.38m 23.16m 21.99m 23.52m
2 Beth Rohl SR Michigan State 22.31m 73-02.50
21.49m FOUL 20.52m 21.85m 21.28m 22.31m
3 Brittney Waller SR Clemson 21.59m 70-10.00
21.10m 20.79m 21.56m 21.59m FOUL 20.62m
4 Chelsea Cassulo SR Arizona State 21.23m 69-08.00
FOUL 20.41m 21.17m 21.23m 20.89m FOUL
5 Brittany Smith SR Illinois State 21.22m 69-07.50
20.38m 20.04m 20.79m 20.83m 21.19m 21.22m
6 Alena Krechyk SR Kansas 20.95m 68-09.00
20.18m 20.24m 20.64m 20.95m 20.79m 20.48m
7 Taylor Smith SR Wisconsin 20.72m 67-11.75
19.77m 19.90m 20.32m FOUL 20.52m 20.72m
8 Alexis Thomas SR Ohio State 20.66m 67-09.50
FOUL 20.51m 19.56m 19.88m 20.59m 20.66m
9 Brittany Funk SO Akron 20.36m 66-09.75
19.99m 20.26m FOUL 20.36m FOUL FOUL
10 Victoria Flowers SR Connecticut 20.13m 66-00.50
11 Erin Atkinson JR Baylor 19.90m 65-03.50
12 Adabelle Ekechukwu JR Harvard 19.84m 65-01.25
13 Dani Bunch JR Purdue 19.78m 64-10.75
14 Denise Hinton JR LSU 19.65m 64-05.75
15 Shant'e White SR Buffalo 18.84m 61-09.75
16 Alexis Cooks FR Akron 17.66m 57-11.25
