Sixth-round performance matches 2017 mark achieved by fellow American Berry at USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque; Stewart also becomes second female athlete in history with three 25-foot throws in same series

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Janeah Stewart, an Ole Miss graduate and two-time USATF champion in the women’s indoor weight throw, matched the world all-time best Friday by fellow American Gwen Berry with her sixth-round mark of 84 feet (25.60m) at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Berry achieved the feat at the 2017 USATF Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico.

Stewart, representing New York Athletic Club, entered the competition with a personal-best 82-3.25 (25.08m) from 2019, which made her the No. 4 competitor in American and global history. She had not produced a 25-meter throw since 2020.

Stewart, who won back-to-back U.S. indoor weight throw titles in 2019 and 2020, improved that mark to 83-2 (25.35m) in the second round.

Stewart, who finished fourth at last year’s USATF Indoor Championships at The Podium in Spokane, Wash., also joined Berry with three 25-meter efforts in the same series with her fifth-round performance of 82-8.50 (25.21m), before equaling the all-time mark to cap the competition.

Berry supported her 2017 record throw in Albuquerque with marks of 82-9 (25.22m) and 82-8.50 (25.21m) to open her series.