Southern Illinois University
USATF Senior & Junior Nationals
Raven Saunders successfully defends USA Junior shot put title
06/26/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Meet Info | Schedule | Live Video | Live Results
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
EUGENE, Ore. -- SIU freshman and two-time NCAA shot put champion Raven Saunders successfully defended her USA junior title in her signature event at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships on Friday afternoon at historic Hayward Field.
Just one day after finishing eighth in the senior shot put as the only collegian to make finals, Saunders ran away with the junior title on her fourth throw of 17.01m (55-09.75) to win by more than two feet. It was smooth sailing for Saunders, who took a monster seven-foot lead on her first throw alone (16.86m/55-03.75) before the field was able to close the gap.
Saunders, a native of Charleston, S.C. who dedicated her performances this week to the victims of the recent tragedy in her hometown, has been near unstoppable at Hayward Field. The Saluki freshman's first trip was last summer for the IAAF World Junior Championships, where she finished as the runner-up to become the first American to medal in the shot put in 10 years. After becoming a fan-favorite at the world junior meet in 2014, Saunders was at ease two weeks ago when she completed the indoor-outdoor NCAA shot put title sweep with another dramatic comeback victory on her final throw to win by two feet at another American Junior record of 18.35m (60-02.50).
This most recent accolade adds to the already very long list of triumphs for Saunders, who in just one year under SIU head coach Connie Price-Smith and national assistant coach of the year John Smith has accumulated two NCAA titles, two MVC titles, two American Junior records, two SIU records and four MVC records. Saunders also became the first American Junior to ever break 18 meters in the shot put this year, a feat she has replicated numerous times. Prior to SIU, she earned a 2014 World Junior silver medal, a 2014 USA junior shot put title, two high school national titles and two all-time national high school girls shot put records.
Today's win also assures her a chance for another medal with a spot on Team USA for the Pan-American Junior Championships, this year held in Edmonton, Canada from July 31-Aug. 2.
Also competing in the junior shot put today was SIU signee Janeah Stewart of Iowa Central Community College, who finished sixth overall at 15.08m (49-05.75).
Saturday will be Southern's busiest day at the US championships, with representatives in the senior women's hammer throw and junior women's pole vault. Professional throwers Gwen Berry and Jeneva Stevens, as well as 2015 NCAA champion DeAnna Price, will compete in the hammer at 2:15 p.m. CDT. The three Salukis each rank in the top-five in the U.S. in 2015. Freshman Lindsey Murray, meanwhile, will enter the junior women's pole vault ranked as the No. 2 U.S. junior in competition at 6:10 p.m.
Field Series
1. 16.86m (55-03.75)
2. FOUL
3. 16.21m (53-02.25)
4. 17.01m (55-09.75)
5. 16.13m (52-11.00)
6. 16.60m (54-05.50)
Players Mentioned
