Robberts
takes NCAA throwing double with 21.60 shot
Bob Ramsak (Track Profile News Service) for the
IAAF
2 June 2002 – Baton Rouge, USA – South
Africa’s Janus Robberts, who was the longest thrower of 2001 with 21.97m, took
the shot put title on the final day of the NCAAs in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on
Saturday in
fine style with a massive throw of 21.60 to complete a memorable discus/shot
championship double.
Robberts had won the discus on Friday with 62.37m, well clear of Britain's Carl Myerscough (61.76) but his winning throw in the shot on Saturday was just three centimeters ahead of Joachim Olsen (DEN). The two men finished in the same order in 2001. The South African won in 1999 and the Dane in 2000. The distance of 21.57 for second, was a Danish record for Olsen who threw 21.23 for the old mark on 18 May this year.
"It was awesome," Robberts said. "I wouldn't want to have had my last (NCAA) meet end any other way."
Back on the track, the Louisiana State University men's team victory may have thrilled their hometown capacity crowd, but it was Angela Williams, the diminutive sprinter from the University of Southern California, who left the biggest impression on the home crowd on the closing night of these NCAA Championships.
With her 11.29 win in the 100 meters, Williams become only the third athlete in NCAA history to win four titles in the same event, but it didn't come easily. Teammate Natasha Mayers, who only gained NCAA eligibility in early May, came within one one-hundredth of a second of raining on Williams' parade.
"That's the first time I've had to lean in my life," said Williams, who wasn't sure of her victory until the results were posted to the scoreboard. "I feel like such a load has been lifted off of me. I went out with a bang. I've closed this chapter of my book."
Mayers, who later won the 200 in 22.93, said she would not have felt bad had she thwarted her teammate's streak attempt. "I believe that she would want me to give 100 percent because she wouldn't make history otherwise."
Befitting the team nature of what is perhaps the most popular annual track meet in the United States, the men's team championship wasn't decided until the final event, the 4x400 relay. To claim the title, LSU had to beat the Tennessee quartet, which they did, finishing third in 3:02.33, with Tennessee fifth in 3:02.83. South Carolina (3:02.16) won the race after a blistering 44.1 split by freshman Jonathon Fortenberry. It was the fourth team championship for the LSU men.
Both 400 meter races were among the fastest in the world this year. South African Gary Kikaya won the men's title in 44.53. "I'm very surprised with time. (Competing in the) US has helped me a lot. The race was very fast and I didnt worry about who kicked first. I was pretty much in control of the race." After taking two weeks off, Kikaya will begin his preparation for the upcoming African Championships. Ricky Harris, who won Friday's 400 meter hurdles title, was second in 44.93.
After a stumble over the final hurdle in Friday's 400 meter hurdles final, Jamaican Allison Beckford bounced back to successfully defended her one lap title, running a personal best 50.83 in the process.
"This is something I can go home with and console myself with after falling over the hurdle yesterday," Beckford said, explaining that the stumble left her bruised and with severe headaches and hip pain the previous night. "I am extremely pleased with my performance today."
Spots from two through to four were all taken by South Carolina, helping to seal the team win for the Lady
Gamecocks, the first national championship for any South Carolina team in the university's 201 year history. Melissa Barber was second in 50.87, Leshinda Demus, the newly crowned world junior record holder in the 400 meter hurdles was third (51.30), with Demetria Washington third in 51.38.
Washington and Demus, teaming with Tiffany Ross and heptahlete Tacita Bass, returned to set a new NCAA record in the 4x400 relay in the final event of the competition. Their time, 3:26.46, shattered the previous best of 3:27.08 set by Texas at the 1999 Championships.
Canadian Perdita Felicien won the 100 metre hurdles in 12.91 after Danielle Caruthers, who was leading over the first eight hurdles, stumbled over the ninth and fell to ground after the tenth.
Fast qualifying times boded well for the women's steeplechase final. No one anticipated, however, that the result would be a new collegiate record, especially not the winner, Michaela Manova of Brigham Young University.
"I never imagined I would set a record," the Czech Republic native said. "I was just happy to be in the finals." Her time, 9:45.94, was not superior to BYU grad Elizabeth Jackson's mark of 9:43.36 set last year, but since this year's final utilized the longer water jumps which will become standard next season, it will be recognized as the new collegiate best. Ida Nilsson was second in 9:49.94, North Carolina freshman Carol Henry of third was third in 9:51.16.
The men's 1500, perhaps the most anticipated distance race, certainly lived up to its expectations, but the result was was shockingly unexpected. The failure of 2000 Olympian Gabe Jennings to qualify for the final put an end to the much balleyhooed Jennings-Alan Webb show down. But in his absence, another Stanford University miler, sophomore Donald Sage, stepped up to fulfill his duties for the Cardinals, producing a stunning 3:42.65 win with a perfectly executed homestretch run.
"I just got excited at the right time with about 150 meters to go," said Sage, who held off Briton Chris Mulvaney of Arkansas (3:43.03) to claim the win.
Webb decided to assume the pacing duties, forging to the lead 150 meters into the race, before fading to fourth in in 3:43.23. "I just didn't want to get caught up in the traffic," said a visibly dejected Webb, "so I just took the lead. Nobody else would. Obviously, I'm very disappointed," said the 19 year-old, whose name has become synonymous with the future of US distance running. "I've had an incredibly terrible year. What can I say."
The relatively slow pace, coupled with the omnipresent Bayou humidity, played perfectly into the hands of five-time NCAA champion David Kimani, who added a sixth with his 13:59.30 victory in the 5,000 metres.
