Ewen just misses matching personal best with world-leading mark in final home meet

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Arizona State senior Maggie Ewen made the most of her final hammer throw competition in her home stadium Friday at the 39th Sun Angel Classic.

Ewen produced the most impressive series by an NCAA Division 1 female athlete in history, with three throws beyond her existing collegiate record, the best being a world-leading effort of 244 feet, 6 inches (74.53m) in the fifth round.

Ewen’s personal best remains 244-7 (74.56m), when she finished second June 25 at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, but it doesn’t count as the collegiate record because it occurred outside the NCAA season.

Northern Arizona senior Brooke Andersen, last year’s Division 1 runner-up to Ewen, finished second Friday with a third-round throw of 229-7 (69.99m).

Ewen had set the collegiate record June 8 of 240-7 (73.32m) to win the NCAA outdoor title. She surpassed that in the third round with an effort of 241-6 (73.61m), before adding another three feet to her total in the fifth round to break the 2012 meet and facility records of 241-10 (73.71m) set by Jessica Cosby.

Ewen concluded the competition with a mark of 242-5 (73.89m), giving her seven of the 10 top marks in Division 1 history. She now boasts nine career throws beyond 237 feet.