Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Riley named USTFCCCA Field Athlete of the year
03/13/2007 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
March 13, 2007
CARBONDALE, Ill.National champion, Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois, has been named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association women's Field Athlete of the Year, announced Tuesday by the USTFCCCA.
Riley is the Division I Indoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year following an all-conquering season. She dominated the 20-pound weight throw, twice topping the world best in the event. Riley threw 80-7½ at the Gladstein Invitational in February and shattered her world best in winning her specialty at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
Riley was spectacular in winning Southern Illinois' first women's national title and the second Valley women's indoor national title joining Indiana State's Holly Hyche in 1993 and 1994. She joins an elite list of just six MVC athletes, men and women, to be crowned indoor national champion.
After fouling on her first attempt, the Riley unleashed five-consecutive throws that would have established a world record before this season. Riley's series progressed: foul, 23.71, 23.92, 23.71, 25.05, 25.56 - defeating Georgia's Jenny Dahlgren by 3.03 meters and nearly 10 feet.
The mark will stand officially as an American record and will not count as a "world record" because weight throw records are not recognized by the IAAF.
The junior from Flossmoor (Ill.) is the first Southern Illinois woman to win an NCAA championship in track and field. Riley earlier was named the Midwest Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.
