Echikunwoke equals No. 3 all-time world performer at Ohio State; Nilsen grabs collegiate pole vault lead in Nebraska

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

One of the most compelling rivalries this year in NCAA Division 1 women's track and field has been the back-and-forth battle in the weight throw involving Cincinnati's Annette Echikunwoke and Janeah Stewart of Ole Miss.

After Stewart became only the fourth collegiate performer in history to surpass 24.00 meters Feb. 9 at Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge, Echikunwoke responded Friday with a lifetime-best effort, unleashing a third-round throw of 81-3.75 (24.78m) to ascend to the No. 2 all-time Division 1 performer at the Ohio State Buckeye Tuneup.

Echikunwoke equaled the No. 3 performer in the world, American Amber Campbell. Only fellow U.S. stars Gwen Berry, who boasts the world all-time best, and collegiate record holder Brittany Riley -- the only two female athletes to surpass 25.00 meters -- have thrown farther than Echikunwoke.

Stewart's mark of 79-1.75 (24.12m) makes her the No. 4 performer in collegiate history and 10th all-time in the world.

At the Nebraska Tuneup, South Dakota sophomore Chris Nilsen took over the collegiate lead Friday in the men's pole vault by clearing a lifetime-best 19-0.25 (5.80m), becoming the eighth Division 1 performer in history with a 19-foot indoor clearance.

Nilsen, who rebounded from a fourth-place finish Feb. 9 at the Tyson Invitational, elevated to the top American this year and equaled the No. 7 performer in the world.