KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
EUGENE, ORE. – Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson posted her best throw on her final attempt in the women's shot put to move from fifth to third while junior Greggmar Swift scored the first points in 13 years for the Sycamore men's team with a seventh place finish in the 110 meter hurdles on the final day of the 2013 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
“We had nice, steady performances from the Sycamores this week,” Angela Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “Katie (Wise) gained some valuable experience. Nicole (Hope) capped off a nice senior year and Felisha (Johnson) finished the shot put in a great competitive fashion with her highest place of third. I am very proud of these young women, how they represented Indiana State, and how they carried on the proud tradition of the Sycamores at the NCAA Championships.”
The finals of the men's 110 meter hurdles went out fast and finished that way with Swift staying close to the leaders throughout most of the event. His seventh place finish gives Indiana State two team points, the first team points scored since 2000 when Aubrey Herring finished second in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 13.49 seconds.
Texas A&M junior Wayne Davis dominated the finals with a winning time of 13.14 seconds. Florida junior Eddie Lovett was second in 13.32 with Clemson senior Spencer Adams third (13.34), and Kentucky senior Keith Hayes fourth (13.40). Oregon sophomore Johnathan Cabral was fifth (13.41) with Syracuse sophomore Donald Pollitt sixth (13.52), Swift seventh (13.58), and Colorado State junior Trevor Brown eighth (13.69).
Swift earned First Team All-American honors with his effort at the NCAA Finals. He finished 10th a year ago and was named Second Team All-American.
Johnson earned her second First-Team All-American honor with a third place finish in the women's shot put on a throw of 56'-9¼” (17.30 meters) on her final attempt of the competition. It was her best finish in the event and her best distance ever at the NCAA Finals. She finished fifth at the 2012 Championship with a throw of 56'-1¾” (17.35 meters) and was 18th at the 2011 Championships with a throw of 52'-6½” (16.01 meters).
Oklahoma senior Tia Brooks successfully defended her 2012 NCAA title with an NCAA Meet record throw of 62'-0½” (18.91 meters). Illinois State senior Brittany Smith was second at 58'-6¾” (17.85 meters). Brooks also won the NCAA Indoor title in the shot put with Johnson eighth.
Next up for a select few members of the Indiana State track & field family will be the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships which will be held later this month in Des Moines, Iowa.
