Johnson misses chance in hammer throw,
will compete in shot put on Saturday
KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
DES MOINES, IOWA ? The weather has proved to be almost as big a competitor as any track & field athlete at the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships which suffered through weather postponements for the second straight day.
The men's high jump competition as well as several other events was postponed by several hours today due to lightning and rain. ISU junior Major Clay was not able to overcome the interruption of competition and finished 20th in the men's high jump after clearing just 6'-10.75” (2.10 meters). The Sycamore had three good attempts at 7'-0.75” (2.14 meters) but just missed on each attempt.
“Major wasn't really bothered by the track surface,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “He had one more attempt after being close on his second when we had a 30 minute lightning delay. I think he would have advanced if we did not have that delay.”
Sycamore sophomore Felisha Johnson was able to complete her competition in the women's hammer throw before the rains but fouled on each of her first three attempts.
“It was not a great day for Felisha but the good thing is that she gets another chance to compete and get on the podium tomorrow,” Martin said. “She was just a little anxious today after having to wait a few days to compete. I think she worked her nerves out and tomorrow will be a great day to compete.”
Johnson will compete in the shot put starting at 12:00 p.m. (CT) Saturday.
Kansas State sophomore Erik Kynard cleared 7'-6” (2.29 meters) to win the men's high jump competition while Mississippi sophomore Ricky Robertson was second after clearing 7'-5” (2.26 meters).
Virginia Tech senior Dorotea Habazin won the women' hammer throw with a toss of 223-7” (68.15 meters) with Southern Illinois junior Jeneva McCall posting a distance of 222'-3” (67.74 meters) on her final attempt to finish second.
The NCAA Championship was suspended late Thursday night after a severe storm swept through the Des Moines area. Competition in the men's decathlon javelin, women's 4x400 relay, men's long jump, and men's 10,000 meters were postponed from Thursday night to Friday morning.
Indiana State senior Kelsey Hanley completed her Sycamore career Wednesday as she placed 23rd in the women's discus competition. Hanley fouled on her first attempt but her second throw went 140'-8” (42.89 meters). Her final toss of the competition went 148'-11” (45.40 meters) but wasn't far enough to advance her into the second round of throws.
Johnson is the first Sycamore women thrower to compete in two events at the NCAA Championship finals since Jenny Folz competed in the hammer throw and shot put at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Folz went on to finish 11th in the hammer to earn All-American recognition.
Her throw in the shot put at the 2011 East Preliminary is the second best in school history as she surpassed ISU All-American Jenny Folz who had a throw of 51'-9.25” (15.78 meters) in 1999. All-American Christy Barrett holds the ISU record of 56'-10.75” (17.34 meters) which she threw in 1991.
The Sycamore sophomore also has the fourth best hammer throw in school history when she went 200'-7” (61.14 meters) at the Tom Botts Invitational and the ninth best throw in discus at 151'-11” (46.31 meters) at the EIU Big Blue Classic.
Johnson is a First-Team Indoor All-American and won the National Championship in the weight throw at the 2011 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with a school record throw of 74'-5.75” (22.69 meters). She was a provisional qualifier and the first athlete out for the 2010 Indoor Championships. She also ranks second on the ISU All-Time list in the Indoor shot put with a heave of 52'-2” (15.90 meters) accomplished at the 2011 MVC Indoor Championships.
Clay was named an All-American in the high jump last year after finishing 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2010. He tied for ninth at this year's East Preliminary after a fourth place finish in 2010. He was fifth at the Mideast Regional in 2009 but failed to make the opening height at the NCAA Finals. He was also ninth at the USA Track & Field Championships a year ago. He is ranked 17th heading into the 2011 NCAA Finals.
The junior is a three-time MVC Outdoor Champion and cleared the third best height in ISU history of 7'-3.25” (2.22 meters) at the Pacesetter Invitational. He has also won the last two MVC Indoor titles after a third place finish in 2009 and tied the ISU indoor record by clearing 7'-4.5” (2.25 meters) at the Grand Valley Big Meet. Clay has also competed in the last two NCAA Indoor Championships and earned Second Team All-American recognition with an 11th place finish this year and finishing 12th in 2010.
Live Results: http://www.ncaa.com/content/di-outdoor-track-field-live-results
