Cal Track & Field: Camryn Rogers Breaks College Hammer Throw Mark Again
Updated
Camryn Rogers did it again.
For the second time this season and the fourth time in less than 12 months, the Cal senior has broken the national collegiate record in the women’s hammer throw.
Rogers threw 250 feet, 10 inches (76.46 meters) on her first attempt Thursday at the NCAA West preliminary meet at Fayetteville, Arkansas. That eclipses her existing mark of 248-5 (75.73), set earlier this spring at the Mt. SAC Relays.
“The throw felt really good," she says in the video at the top of this story. "We had a mission going in to get the job done and do it on the first throw. To be able to execute our plan exactly as we set it out to be was really awesome. Being able to put a big one out there on the first throw is exciting. To break the record, it’s a very exciting day.”
Including the two collegiate records she set at last year’s NCAA championships, Rogers now owns the top five marks in college history. She is currently No. 4 on the 2022 world list.
Rogers also broke the tie she had with Sultana Frizell for the Canadian national record. Frizell first established the mark in 2014 before Rogers equaled it last month.
Rogers has climbed to No. 21 on the all-time world list.
She will get one more chance representing Cal to go farther still when she closes out her college career at the NCAA championships in Eugene, June 8-11. Rogers will be chasing her third consecutive collegiate title.
Old rival Alyssa Wilson of Texas State, formerly of UCLA, finished second at 239-0 (72.85) — nearly 12 feet back of Rogers.
Cal junior Anna Purchase finished third and also qualified for the NCAA nationals with a throw of 226-2 (68.95).
“I’m beyond ecstatic. I think the two of us heading into nationals is something that we have been preparing for, planning for this entire year," Rogers said. "Doing it together makes it all the better.”
Another teammate, junior Rebecca Tomann, was 27th at 194-3 (59.21).
The Bears now have four athletes with clinched spots at the NCAA meet on the heels of Josh Johnson (shot put) and Ivar Moisander (hammer throw) qualifying Wednesday.
The regional meet continues through Saturday, with Cal freshman and collegiate discus recordholder Mykolas Alekna set to compete on Friday morning.
"He’s an incredible athlete," Rogers said of Alekna. "Seeing our team start out so strong and knowing that we’re only going to carry that energy through the rest of the weekend, I think tomorrow is going to be just as big as yesterday and today have been.”
Later, senior Ezinne Abba qualified second into Saturday’s quarterfinal round of the 100 meters, running a wind-legal time of 11.28 to win her heat. She also qualified second in in the 200 in a personal-best 22.85, improving her No. 2 all-time mark at Cal. She is chasing the school record of 22.72, set at altitude by Antonette Carter in 2006.
Cal athletes sidelined on Thursday were: sophomore Asha Fletcher (16th in the long jump with a season-best of 20-3 1/2), senior Maisie Stevens (25th in the 100 at 11.59 and 33rd in the 200 at 23.77), junior Amari Turner (26th in pole vault at 12-11 3/4), freshman Amelia Flynt (33rd in the shot put at 50-8), sophomore Jada Hicks (34th in 10 hurdles at 13.67) and sophomore Kristin Smoot (42nd in the shot put at 49-1 3/4).
The top 12 finishers in each individual event at the West and East regional prelim meets qualify for the NCAA nationals.
Cover photo of Camryn Rogers by Marcus Edwards
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo