Dutch record holder produces fifth-round effort of 230-4 (70.22m) at USATF Throws Festival to surpass 1981 standard of 221-5 (67.48m) by Arizona legend Ritchie, achieve best throw globally since 2018 and elevate to No. 24 all-time; Lawrence eclipses own Jamaican record with 219-11 (67.05m) performance

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The longest-standing women’s collegiate record celebrated its 40th anniversary in April, but Arizona State standout and Dutch competitor Jorinde van Klinken made sure the all-time best mark wouldn’t stand for another month beyond that with her performance Saturday at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson.

Following an exciting back-and-forth competition with Jamaican record holder and 2017 NCAA Division 1 champion Shadae Lawrence, the 21-year-old van Klinken delivered a world-leading performance of 230 feet, 4 inches (70.22m) in the fifth round to produce the best throw in collegiate history.

Because she competed unattached, and due to the fact it was not a complete track and field meet, the collegiate record remains according to the USTFCCCA. But when van Klinken returns to NCAA competition May 26-29 at the Division 1 West Regional in College Station, Texas, she will be eligible to officially surpass the collegiate record.

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Meg Ritchie, a Scottish athlete, has held the top mark by a collegiate thrower since the 1981 Mt. SAC Relays, when she achieved a throw of 221-5 (67.48m).

Following a 216-4 (65.94m) effort Thursday at the Tucson Elite Classic, van Klinken opened her series Saturday by throwing 216-3 (65.91m).

She extended that mark, and her own Dutch record, to 219-9 (67.00m) in the fourth round, only to have Lawrence surpass her own Jamaican all-time mark from 2019 by throwing 219-11 (67.05m) in the fifth round.

But van Klinken responded on the next throw, surpassing Cuba’s Yaime Perez, who achieved a throw of 226-4 (68.99m) earlier Saturday in her home country, as the global leader.

It marked the best throw in the world by any female discus competitor since Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic in 2018, elevating van Klinken to No. 24 all-time, just ahead of American record holder Valarie Allman at 230-2 (70.15m) from August.

Lawrence ascended to No. 77 in discus history with her lifetime-best effort, including third globally this year.

Kelsey Card was the top American, finishing third at 207-3 (63.18m)