Smith Wins Third Straight National Discus Crown
RESULTS
GENEVA, OHIO – For the third consecutive outdoor season, senior
Brandy Smith of the No. 4 Ithaca College women's track & field team stood atop the podium at the NCAA Division III Championships in Geneva, Ohio as the discus national champion with a mark of 48.91 meters (160 feet, five inches).
Smith is just the third student-athlete to win three national titles in the discus. The other two occurrences took place from 1985-1987 – Veronika Platzer of Grinnell and 1990-1992 – Kristin Kuehl of Concordia-Moorhead.
The wet and rainy conditions at SPIRE Institute seemed to play a role in the performances of the 22 athletes in the field, as five of the top eight seeded entries did not advance past the first three attempts. Along with that, only two of the top eight finishers at the conclusion of competition measured out further than their seed mark.
Smith posted two successful throws on the day, with her national championship heave coming on the second try. She measured out 30.84 meters on her first attempt and then vaulted to the top of the field on her second throw at 48.91 meters, which was nearly two meters further than the runner-up mark of 46.95 meters (154') from Elanta Slowek of Carthage. Slowek was seeded 18th heading into the championship.
Smith's winning mark of 48.91 meters is the 11th-best performance in the discus national championship since 1982.
The Miami, Fla. native won last year's national title with a mark of 51.48 meters (168' 11") and claimed top honors two seasons ago with the second-furthest throw in NCAA Championship history at 53.00 meters (173' 11").
Smith now adds the 39th all-time individual national championship in Ithaca College history, and is now the third Bomber to win three national titles.
She will return to action Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the shot put. Smith is 12th in the field at 14.00 meters and finished 15th last spring.