KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
DES MOINES, IOWA ? Indiana State sophomore Felisha Johnson competed in her second event of the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday as she placed 18th in the women's shot put with a throw of 56'-6.5” (16.01 meters).
“She had a good opener which was her second best throw of her career but then she couldn't save her last two,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “It was disappointing but still a great experience for Felisha heading into her final two seasons at Indiana State. She will have a very bright future as a Sycamore.”
Johnson's fouled on her final two attempts Saturday afternoon and did not advance to the finals. Arizona sophomore Julie Labonte won the event with a throw of 60'-1” (18.31 meters) with Oklahoma sophomore Tia Brooks second at 59'-0.75” (18.00 meters).
The Indiana State sophomore 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.
Johnson competed in the women's hammer throw on Friday but fouled on each of her first three attempts.
Her throw of 54'-3.75” (16.55 meters) 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 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 discus throw at 151'-11” (46.31 meters) attained 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.
ISU junior Major Clay also competed on Friday and placed 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.
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.
All three Sycamores will receive Honorable Mention All-American Recognition for their efforts during the NCAA Championships.
