Wiltrout finishes 3rd in javelin at NCAA nationals
The University of North Carolina’s Madison Wiltrout moved up three spots in the final round of the javelin Thursday night for third place at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
North Carolina State sophomore Gionna Quarzo held on for 16th place in the 10,000 meters to earn second-team All-America status in her first national championship.
Wiltrout placed 16th last year and was third in her first trip to the national meet in 2019.
“I did. I got that goal of finishing in the top three,” said Wiltrout. “I’m very happy about it. Having a bad day and still finish in the top three, I’ll take that.”
Wiltrout sat in sixth place entering the final round with a top throw of 52.75 meters (173-0) on her final attempt in the preliminaries. The Connellsville graduate opened with a throw of 51.06 meters (167-6) and followed with 54.33 meters (178-3).
“I felt disconnected. I wasn’t hitting it,” Wiltrout said of her approach. “My first goal was to make finals, then what can I do from there. I was just off.
“I could not get any pull on the javelin.”
Wiltrout opened the final round with a throw of 51.20 meters (168-0), and then hit her bronze medal-winning throw of 56.46 meters (189-3) on her second attempt in the finals. She closed with a throw of 55.88 meters (183-4).
“I threw 189. It felt great, but that’s all I had,” said Wiltrout.
Wiltrout just attempted to simplify things and let all her training carry her through.
“I shut my mind off and trusted my body on what it’s doing,” said Wiltrout. “I personally could not execute. I had no pressure going in. As soon as I started warming up, I was ‘Oh, good heavens.’ I had to react quickly.
“It wasn’t my day. To get third on a bad day, that’s ok.”
Wiltrout had a long journey getting to Eugene, Ore., when the connecting flight from Denver turned around because of a mechanical issue.
“The 25-hour trip didn’t help,” said Wiltrout, who admitted she was not completely recovered and rested from the disruptive flight.
Wiltrout throws in the USA outdoor nationals in a couple weeks for a chance to earn a spot on the World Championship team, and believes she is in a good place mentally entering the big meet.
“I’m very happy with the consistency I’ve had all year and to be able to conquer all the demons I’ve had over the past seven years with my faith and confidence. I take this year as more than a win with the person I’ve become through it and the things I’ve conquered,” said Wiltrout.
Brigham Young senior Ashton Riner entered as the No. 1 seed and the ranking held throughout the six throws for a first-place finish with a top throw of 58.24 meters (191-1) on her first attempt of the prelims.
Nebraska sophomore Maddie Harris placed second with a top effort of 57.69 meters (189-3). She scratched on all three attempts in the final round.
Quarzo finished her first national 10K with a time of 33:46.78.
“Obviously, I always want to do better, but that’s just me,” said Quarzo. “My goal was the top 16.
“(Being second-team All-America) still hasn’t hit me yet. I always want more. It was great to experience nationals for the first time. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Quarzo was sitting in 13th place until the final 2,000 meters or so.
“I was top 13 for a while. A gap developed,” said Quarzo.
Quarzo didn’t feel she was in any peril of losing a top-16 spot in the final laps.
“I don’t think anyone was in position to outkick me because my mom would’ve been screaming,” said Quarzo.
The Brownsville graduate had lap times of 1:19.53, 1:21.25, 1:20.29, 1:20.36, 1:20.89, 1:22.17, 1:24.05, 1:24.10, 1:22.15, 1:20.36, 1:19.76, 1:19.09, 1:17.17, 1:19.22, 1:20.84, 1:20.03, 1:19.64, 1:22.25, 1:22.49, 1:21.62, 1:23.19, 1:24.30, 1:23.90, 1:21.90, and 1:16.37 in the 25-lap race.
Alabama junior Mercy Chelangat won the national title with a time of 32:37.08.
“I stayed consistent. (The runners a couple seconds ahead of her) picked it up,” said Quarzo.
The women’s 10,000 meters started at 8:08 p.m. local time, but Quarzo said the late start didn’t affect her.
“It didn’t really matter to me. I just treated it like any other late meet,” explained Quarzo. “The weather was really nice, too. It was warm with a breeze.
Quarzo appreciated running on a track with so much history.
“It was really cool. It helped me get through it when I started hurting with five or six laps to go,” said Quarzo.