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Ole Miss Star Janeah Stewart Nails Down Hammer Throw Title at NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships

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DyeStat.com   Jun 8th 2018, 8:03am
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Stewart elevates to No. 4 performer in collegiate history, 10th all-time among Americans to become only third Ole Miss female athlete to capture NCAA title

By Brenten Kelly for DyeStat

EUGENE Ole Miss senior Janeah Stewart surprised herself with Thursday’s winning performance in the women’s hammer throw at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a lifetime-best throw of 239 feet, 3 inches (72.92m), which surpassed her PR by 14.5 feet.

Stewart’s best attempt was her second throw, which helped her elevate to the No. 4 collegiate performer in history. Stewart then had to wait for the final attempt of Northern Arizona senior Brooke Andersen, the favorite and last year’s runner-up, who finished two inches behind at 239-1 (72.87m).

“I was expecting Brooke to throw farther than me,” said Stewart, who also ascended to the No. 10 all-time American performer.

“So when the last throw came up short, I was relieved. I don’t even know how I did on the last throw. Because I didn’t even care because I was ready to hug all my teammates and my coaches. I was so excited.”

It was especially disappointing for Andersen, despite improving 14 feet from last year’s second-place performance, since she entered the competition as the No. 2 all-time collegiate performer at 243-5 (74.20m).

“I just feel like I did everything I could (Thursday) to get it out of myself. I had a really good series, but I can’t dwell on it now,” Andersen said. “But Janeah did amazing. I have so much respect for her and she’s such a great competitor.”

Even without the presence of defending champion and collegiate record holder Maggie Ewen of Arizona State, who fouled on all three throws May 26 at the West Regionals in Sacramento, Stewart said she never expected to contend for the title with Andersen in the field.

“I don’t ever want to downgrade myself, but I felt I could have only thrown 70 meters,” Stewart said. “I didn’t really think of becoming a national champion. My coach always told me I had the ability to do it. But hey, he told me to just throw and I just did.”

Rebels throws coach John Smith won his 13th NCAA event title during stints at Ohio State, Southern Illinois and Ole Miss with Stewart’s victory. Smith was not surprised by Stewart’s winning performance. 

“Janeah is very good at following the training and doing what I want done,” Smith said. “This week she had three different PRs with three different implements. I knew she was ready to go at 71 meters, but I didn’t think she would go 72 meters. When the dam breaks, it breaks, and it broke big. Ended up stealing that title. The process started long time ago.”

Stewart is the third Ole Miss female athlete to win a national title, joining Brittney Reese, who won the NCAA indoor and outdoor long jumps in 2009, and Raven Saunders, who won the outdoor shot put in 2016 and the indoor shot put in 2017.

“She has attributes that the rest of them don’t have,” Smith said. “She has longer arms, smoother, good connection with the ball. She has speed, not as powerful as the other girls. But once we get her power up in the next two years in the weight room, I could see her throwing 75 meters-plus.”

According to Smith, Stewart was not recruited out of high school. However, he saw her athletic ability early on.

“There is all kind of talent out there you just have to know what you’re looking at,” he said. “You’ll get that blue-collar kid from the South side of Chicago who is tougher than hell, and that’s what she is.”

Stewart, who also placed fifth in the shot put with a mark of 56-10.75 (17.34m), will next be competing June 23 in the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I am very proud,” Stewart said. “If you would have told me two or three years ago that I would throw 72, almost 73 meters, I would have told you were lying to my face. It’s amazing that I have accomplished this much so far.”



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