Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Price repeats as hammer throw champion at 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships
07/29/2019 | 11:54:00 | Track and Field
Price resets U.S. Record, takes World-Lead, with Fourth-Best Hammer Throw Ever
Deanna Price unleashed the fourth-longest toss in women's hammer throw history to reset her own American record, take the world-lead and win her third USATF championship at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Price threw 256'-8" (78.24m) en route to her second-straight USATF Championship in the hammer throw. The Moscow Mills, Mo. native never trailed, as she took the lead with her first toss of 248'-3" (75.66m) and recorded a six-foot improvement on her second attempt to take the lead for good. In all, three of Price's six throws Saturday would have won the event, with her record-breaking heave coming on her final attempt.
Price became just the seventh different woman to repeat as USATF hammer throw champion since the event was first contested in 1992. In doing so, she secured a spot on Team USA for the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar from Sept. 28-Oct. 6.Â
Fellow Saluki alum Gwen Berry will join Price on Team USA at the IAAF World Championships after she took second in the hammer throw. Berry's day in the circle got off to a disastrous start, as she fouled on her first two attempts. The St. Louis, Mo. native dialed up a big throw at 225'-1" (68.62m) on her third attempt to move into sixth and advance to the finals. She got it together on her fourth throw with a season-best mark of 250'-10" (76.46m) to move up to second and clinch her third world championship appearance.Â
Jeneva Stevens came heartbreakingly close to joining Price and Berry on Team USA, as she finished fourth in the women's shot put and was just three inches shy of third.Â
Also competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships with Saluki ties was Josh Freeman (9th, shot put), Kyle Landon (T-12th, high jump), Alex Morgan (13th, women's discus), Jared Kern (15th, shot put) and current Saluki Shauniece O'Neal (12th, hammer throw).
Players Mentioned
