Pfleger?s Hammer Throw At Campbell-Wright Open Ranks 17th In Country
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
AKRON, Ohio -- Kent State junior Matthew Pfleger (Garrettsville, Ohio/James A. Garfield) had surpassed the NCAA regional qualifying standard five times going into Friday's men's hammer throw at the Campbell-Wright Open. What was left to achieve besides becoming the Mid-American Conference champion in the event?
Apparently, establishing himself as one of the best in the nation.
Pfleger hurled the hammer a lifetime-best 64.55 meters to not only surpass the qualifying mark a sixth time but also rank as the 17th best toss in all of Division I track & field. He took third place in the event.
“A huge PR for him,” said KSU head coach Bill Lawson. “He's put himself in position to, with a top-eight throw at the regional meet, qualify for the national championships. A throw like that next week will make him a conference champion.”
Pfleger's classmate Anthony Connor (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) had also beaten the hammer's regional standard earlier this season and just missed doing so again. Connor's throw of 55 meters placed him sixth.
On the women's side, three Golden Flashes finished in the top 10 in the hammer. Senior LeVania Henderson (Westland, Mich./Churchill) led the way for KSU, reaching 51.86 meters on her toss for fifth place. Junior Effua Ampadu (Columbus, Ohio/Mifflin) was right behind Henderson in sixth with a 50.58-meter toss. Ampadu's classmate Kearran Capers (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) was ninth with a throw of 46.51 meters.
The men's and women's hammer were the only events that took place on the first day of the Campbell-Wright at Lee Jackson Field. The rest of the competition will take place Saturday (May 9) at the site of next weekend's MAC Outdoor Championships.
Lawson is looking for some of his competitors in the men's 800 to beat the regional qualifying times but only if conditions are favorable.
“It all depends on what the weather is going to do,” said Lawson. “If we have terrible rain and wind, we're not going to run. If there's light rain and no wind, they'll be able to run fast.”
Field events continue at 11 a.m. with the women's javelin while the 110-meter hurdle preliminaries kick off the track portion of the meet at 2 p.m.
For complete results from Friday's hammer competitions, click here.
