Cal Junior Camryn Rogers Defends NCAA Title With Collegiate Record Throws

EUGENE, Ore. – Camryn Rogers broke the collegiate record twice on the way to defending her women's hammer throw national title at the NCAA Championships on Thursday at Hayward Field.

Rogers opened the competition with a bang by setting the new collegiate best, NCAA championships meet record and eighth-best throw in the world this year on her first attempt with a mark of 74.97 meters (245-11).

After setting what would have been two more personal records coming into the day on throws three and five, the Richmond, B.C., product capped her day and season with her best effort yet.

She went 75.52 meters (247-9) on her final attempt to set the NCAA record for the second time and move into the fourth spot on the world leaders list this year, while claiming her second consecutive national championship.   

Rogers' top throw was almost 14 feet farther than the second-place finisher, Shey Taiwo of Ole Miss, and all five of her fair throws would have won the NCAA title.

"We really zeroed in on what we had to do and we came in with a plan to execute," Rogers said. "I'm really happy with the preparations that Coach Mo and I took before the meet and I think our training was a great reflection of the focus and the time we put in. I'm really happy I was able to set the record at the NCAA Championships. Any meet that I compete in we approach it like we're here to get the job done and that's how I approached today."   

With the victory, Rogers became the first Golden Bear to defend an NCAA championship since Sheila Hudson won two straight titles in the triple jump in 1987 and 1988.

"Today was an amazing and historic day," Cal throws coach Mohamad Saatara said. "Camryn demonstrated exceptional technical command and competitiveness at the highest level. It's an honor and absolute joy to be her coach."

Rewriting the NCAA women's hammer throw record book all season long, Rogers now holds the top two marks, four of the top 10 all-time marks and five of the top 11 all-time throws. She posted four of the top all-time marks at today's NCAA Championship meet.  

Rogers Records:

4th-best hammer throw in the world this year

Collegiate Record (2x)

NCAA Championships Meet Record (4x)

Canadian U23 Record

Best Canadian mark this year

Nine inches off Canadian Record

Collegiate lead (5x today)

All five fair throws would have won NCAA Championship this year.

Rogers NCAA All-Time Marks:

75.52 meters - 247-9 (1st)

74.97 meters - 245-11 (2nd)

73.52 meters - 241-2 (8th)

73.33 meters - 240-7 (t9th)

73.09 meters - 239-9 (11th)