KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Felisha Johnson claimed
her second national championship in three years as she closed out her 2013
Indoor season claiming the 2013 NCAA National title in the women's weight throw
Friday and breaking the school record twice during the process.
Men's
action for Indiana State also began Friday with Sycamore junior Greggmar Swift
advancing to the finals of the 60 meter hurdles.
“Fe
did a tremendous job today,” Angela Martin, Indiana State women's track &
field coach, said. “She really composed herself and had some great throws
enroute to winning her second NCAA championship in the weight.”
Johnson
won the NCAA title in 2011 but finished fourth a year ago. This year she was
determined to reclaim the crown against some of the top throwers in the nation.
Five
of the six throws by the Sycamore senior were over 70-feet as she dominated the
completion. Johnson, who had set the Indiana State record twice already this
season, set the new mark for the third time with her third throw of the
competition when she went 76-feet-8.5-inches (23.38 meters).
But
she was not done yet.
Johnson's
next throw went 76-feet (23.06 meters) and her fifth 72-feet-1.75-inches (21.99
meters). She saved the best for last, breaking the school record for the fourth
time this season and winning the competition with a throw of 77-feet-2-inches
(23.52 meters).
“One
of the neat facts about Fe winning today is that this is the 10-year
anniversary of Coach (Erin) Gilreath winning the NCAA title,” Martin said. “We
are all so happy for her.”
Beth
Rohl of Michigan State finished second with her best throw going
73-feet-2.5-inches (22.31). Brittany Waller of Clemson was third at
70-feet-10-inches (21.59 meters) with Chelsea Cassulo of Arizona State fourth
at 69-feet-8-inches (21.23 meters). Illinois State's Brittany Smith was fifth
at 69-feet-7.5-inches (21.22 meters).
Johnson's
winning throw is the fifth best in collegiate history and gives the Missouri
Valley Conference three of the top five collegiate marks.
Three
of the top four marks were established at the NCAA Indoors in previous years
led by former Southern Illinois thrower Brittany Riley who posted the top mark
of 83-feet-10.25-inches (25.56 meters) at the 2007 Championship. Candice Scott
of Florida threw 79-feet-3.75-inches (24.17 meters) at the 2005 Championship
while Jenny Dahgren of Georgia went 78-feet-10.5-inches (24.04 meters) at the
2006 Championship. Former Southern Illinois athlete Jeneva McCall went
77-feet-10.5-inches (23.76 meters) during the 2012 season.
Johnson
will seek her second national title of the championships on Saturday when goes
in the women's shot put starting at 5 p.m. (ET).
Indiana
State's Greggmar Swift began his quest for the NCAA title in the 60 meter
hurdles by running 7.72 in the first heat and advanced to Saturday's finals. Swift
was fourth in the opening heat and has the seventh fastest time overall heading
into the finals which will be run at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
“Greggmar
was a little close to the first hurdle which caused him to be a little high and
caused hurdle two to be a little slow,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's
track & field coach, said. “He regained his rhythm on three and raced out
very well. He came in seeded sixth and is sitting seventh heading into the
finals which is a good position to race the field on Saturday.”
Florida
junior Eddie Lovett posted the fastest time in the preliminaries at 7.53 to win
the second heat. Clemson senior Spencer Adams won the opening heat in 7.62.
Texas senior Keiron Stewart, who beat Swift at the Tyson Invitational earlier
this season, is third at 7.63.
The
rest of Saturday's final will have California senior Ray Stewart (7.68), Texas
A&M junior Wayne Davis II (7.68), Kentucky senior Keith Hayes (7.69), and
Oregon sophomore Johnathan Cabral (7.73).
Sycamore
Brandon Pounds will be in the competition on Saturday as he begins his quest
for an NCAA title in the men's weight throw at 3 p.m. (ET) Saturday.