Mihaljevic leaves lasting impression

Croatian Olympian and European Under-23 champion saves best throws for last to become first to win both shot put and discus titles since Ryan Whiting in 2010, helping Virginia place third overall

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Filip Mihaljevic is one of the most imposing throwers standing inside of a ring anywhere in the world, especially at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships.

But at 6 feet 7 and 22 years old with some of the most impressive credentials of any collegiate athlete competing at Hayward Field, the Virginia senior found himself easily humbled when discussing his injury-laden indoor season or coming up short of achieving his lofty goals at last year's outdoor final.

Mihaljevic, a member of Croatia's Olympic team, put all past frustrations and disappointments to rest Friday by winning the discus with a sixth-round throw of 209-2 (63.76m), becoming the first Virginia athlete to capture multiple titles at an outdoor final following his shot put victory Wednesday.

"It's really special. We had Paul Ereng, who was a world record holder at the time (in the 800), and I'm better than him now when it comes to scoring at NCAAs. It's incredible, it's awesome," said Mihaljevic, who became the first male athlete since Arizona State's Ryan Whiting in 2010 to win the discus throw and shot put titles.

"Virginia is a great school and a great academic institution and they appreciate academics as well, and then to come out on top as NCAA champion in two events, especially coming out with two school records, it's really special."

Kent State's Reginald Jagers led the discus competition following the second round with a throw of 205-1 (62.51m). Mihaljevic, who hadn't thrown over 200 feet since last year's ACC Championships, kept chipping away at the lead in the third, fourth and fifth rounds with three consecutive 200-foot efforts before delivering the winning throw when it counted most.

"As soon as I released it and saw the flight, I knew it was going to be a good one. I didn’t know how big it was going to be, but it was a good one," said Mihaljevic, who broke his own program record from the 2015 Penn Relays.

"People are going to talk about you if you’re good. I’m the best now. A lot of people are going to talk trash, of course. But I’m the NCAA champion, twice in a row (in the shot put), and the discus, so they can say whatever they want."

Jordan Young finished third behind Jagers at 203-2 (61.94m), helping the Cavaliers become the first program since SMU in 2004 to have teammates place in the top three in the discus.

When Mihaljevic won the shot put Wednesday at 69-10.75 (21.30m), teammate Oghenakpobo Efekoro was fourth at 64-7.75 (19.70m). Along with Hilmar Orn Jonsson placing fourth in the hammer throw Wednesday at 237-6 (72.38m), the Cavaliers accumulated 36 points overall to place third as a team behind Florida (61.5) and Texas A&M (59.5), the best finish in program history.

Virginia, which took seventh last year, set the record for most points by only male throwers in a championship meet. It was also the most points for a team with throwers accounting for all of their production.

"Words cannot describe Filip," Virginia coach Brian Fetzer said. "What he accomplished is simply magnificent. To win the discus on his last throw speaks volumes of him as a competitor and leader."

Mihaljevic, a 10-time combined indoor and outdoor All-American, was motivated to return to a championship level and help Virginia make history after injuries resulted in him fouling on all three attempts at the indoor shot put final in March in College Station, Texas.

"When I got hurt, I knew it was bad at the moment, but I knew it was going to help me for the outdoor season to stay fresh," Mihaljevic said. "It definitely pushed me. I wasn’t satisfied with my indoor season, so I wanted to come back and be the strongest as possible."

Even with back-to-back shot put titles, Mihaljevic was motivated to secure his first discus championship after placing eighth, third and fifth the past three years.

"Last year when I won the shot, it was like whatever for discus, but this year I practiced better, I prepared myself better and I had a little bit more intensity to practice so I didn't get too tired after the shot put," Mihaljevic said. "I definitely prepared myself for this. It took pressure off and I was satisfied with the wins and the distances, but I wanted to win both events because ever since I got here people have been talking about me doubling in the disc and shot."

Mihaljevic, a European Under-23 shot put champion, gained inspiration from Dutch thrower Rutger Smith, the first male athlete to medal in the discus and shot put at the IAAF World Championships, capturing bronze medals in both in 2007 in Osaka, Japan.

"I wanted to be that guy who was going to win both," Mihaljevic said. "You can find any meet and get a good wind and go out and throw 65 meters, but in the world of throwing, Rutger Smith was a great example of throwing both well in the big meets.

"It's hard to prepare for both events at a championship and that's what I like about it because it's so challenging and it pushes me and keeps me going. I want to do that further on in my life and this was the right start."