Huge throws for Saunders, Malone break records

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE -- Two years ago, Raven Saunders started a Kickstarter to raise funds to come across the country to Hayward Field for U.S. Juniors. 

On Thursday, the sophomore won her second consecutive NCAA Outdoor title and broke the collegiate record in the shot put with a massive mark of 63 feet, 5 inches (19.33m). 

Saunders, who the title for Southern Illinois as a freshman before transferring to Ole Miss, wasn't the only thrower to make history. 

Less than 10 yards away -- and within the same half hour -- Maggie Malone of Texas A&M smashed the collegiate record in the javelin with 204 feet (62.19m).

Malone, a long and triple jumper in rural Nebraska in high school, started her collegiate life as a heptathlete at the University of Nebraska. Now she is now the No. 4 javelin thrower all-time in the U.S. and a threat to make the Olympic team.

It was a 6-foot personal best for Malone, but more importantly she moved up eight spots from her non-scoring ninth a year ago.

"Last year was devastation," she said. "To have my sister here and motivating me and to come back from last year, I couldn't ask for a better day."

Malone's sister Audrey, a sophomore, placed third behind Texas Tech's Hannah Carson. 

"I was just trying to hit 62 (meters) and I knew that Hannah Carson could pop off at any second," Malone said.

In the shot put, Saunders, with her short-cropped Afro dyed Rebel red, launched a mark that moved her to No. 7 on the all-time U.S. list.

She was happy to have the win, but the record-breaking throw felt like a "miss."

"I definitely missed it, but it felt pretty good," Saunders said. "I threw my head so the shot came off slightly early."

Either way, it's a throw that Saunders would be happy to duplicate in about one month when the Olympic Trials come to Hayward Field.

"This sets me up for the Trials," she said.

In other field event finals, freshman Lexi Weeks from Arkansas won the pole vault title to match the one she achieved at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She made 14-9 (4.50m) and took three strong attempts at 15-3.

In the long jump, Georgia's Chanice Porter won the title with a personal best 21-10.75 (6.67m). She defeated runner-up Quanesha ur of Alabama by six inches.

DeAnna Price of Southern Illinois, Saunders' old teammate, won her second national title in the hammer with 234-8 (71.53m).

Dominique Scott of Arkansas followed through on the big expecations that she could match Edward Cheserek as a 5k/10k double winner by winning the 10,000 meters. A year after finished second in both of her events, the South African was content to run comfortably for 23 laps and then rip away from all of her challengers in the final 800 meters. 

Scott ran 32:35.69 and misssed the NCAA meet record by just seven seconds. Alice Wright of New Mexico was second, 11 seconds back. Hannah Everson of Air Force edged out Lauren La Rocco of Portland to take third.

With wins the pole vault and 10,000, Arkansas finished the day with 26 points. 

Defending champion Oregon, already without Jasmine Todd, had a rough day and is nearly out of contention. Sprinter Hannah Cunliffe pulled up in her 100 meters semi and did not advance. And the 4x400 relay squad did not finish.

The women have a day off and their championships will conclude on Saturday.