Findlay Open to Feature Elite Throws Competition
It looks to be a big night of big throws as the shot putters and weight throwers take center stage at The University of Findlay Indoor Track & Field Open this Friday, Feb. 1. The action inside the oval promises to be one of the best ever at UF's annual elite throws competitions with seven athletes who are currently ranked in the top 10 in the United States in their respective events. Highlighting the field is 2012 Olympian A.G. Kruger. Representing Nike, Kruger is the 2012 USA Indoor Champion in the weight throw and the Malcolm Athletic Center record holder at 24.68m (80'11 ¾").
The festivities will start at 3:30 p.m. with the women's elite shot put. Kent State's Joh'vonnie Mosley is the top-seed at 16.23m (53'4"), which ranks her in 19th in the nation. She should be challenged by two U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers - Sam Lockhart of Grand Valley, the NCAA II current leader at 16.08m (52'9 ¼"); and Nia Henderson who is just getting her 2013 competitive season started.
At 4:30 p.m. competitors in the high school boys elite weight throw take the ring and will feature some of the best young talent in the state. May Lydum of Defiance H.S. owns the best throw of the season in all divisions at 66'6. Lovell Paterson of Wayne H.S. is ranked second in Division I while Matt Monroe of Crestwood H.S. is ranked third in Division II/III.
The men's elite shot put, which will begin at 5 p.m., will showcase some of the country's best throwers with the top three entrants all competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer. Kurt Roberts, the fieldhouse record holder, headlines the group boasting the sixth best throw in the United States last outdoor season at 21.14m (69'4 ¼"). Derrick Vicars, who was a 2012 NCAA Division II National Champion for the Oilers in the shot put during the outdoor season, is currently ranked sixth in the U.S. with a toss of 20.12m (66' ¼"). Rob Golabeck of the Syracuse Chargers owns the eighth best toss in the nation this year at 19.63m (64'5").
At 6 p.m., the women's elite weight throw will not only feature some of the best collegiate competitors, but three of the top eleven in the United States. Michigan State's Beth Rohl has the third best throw in NCAA Division I at 21.40m (70'2 ½"), which is also sixth in the U.S. The top two ranked throwers in NCAA II – Sam Lockhart of Grand Valley and Jessica Rowland of Findlay – are ranked eighth and 11th in the nation respectively. The field will include four of the top 10 in NCAA II.
Capping off the evening will be the seventh annual elite men's weight throw with a scheduled start time of 7:30 p.m. It is the deepest field of the night with six of the competitors currently ranked in the top 20 in the U.S. AG Kruger of Nike is the class and experience of the field and will look to defend his title. He is currently ranked second in the U.S. and is a six-time United States Champion in the event. Kruger has represented the U.S. in the last three Olympiads as well. Robert Klenk is the second-seed with a mark of 22.63m (74'3"). Klenk was the 2008 NCAA II champion for Ashland and finished sixth in the United States Championship that same year. Justin Welch, a 2012 US Olympic Trials qualifier in the hammer, looks to improve on his personal and season best of 21.85m (71'8 ¼"). He is currently ranked fourth nationally in the weight throw.
Field events will kick off at noon with the open sections of the throws (women's weight throw and men's shot put). Action on the track will start at 5:10 p.m. Competing teams include Ashland, Baldwin-Wallace, Central Michigan, Defiance, Ferris State, Findlay, Grand Valley, Heidelberg, Hillsdale, Kent State, Macomb CC, Michigan State, Oberlin, Siena Heights, Tiffin, Toledo, and Union (KY).