June 26, 2009

Shot put Results

Hammer Results

EUGENE, Ore. -- Samantha Gable's first competition on the national level opened with a nervous excitement, but concluded with personal best in the hammer throw Friday at the USA Track and Field Junior National Championship. The Miami freshman started the day by finishing 21st in the shotput, but rebounded to finish ninth in the hammer.

In the shot put, Gable improved on each of her three attempts. She started with 12.02 meters before reaching 12.37 meters. Her final attempt covered 12.57 meters (41-feet, 3-inches).

Later in the day, she just missed the hammer final, finishing ninth overall. Having entered the competition ranked 25th, she was one of only three entrants to better her seed mark. She opened with a distance of 47.72 meters, then did not better it on the second try (46.26 meters). Her final attempt was 49.04 meters (160-feet, 11-inches).

The mark was just .49 meters (seven inches) sense shy of making the final. Her distance was a personal best -- topping 48.17 meters at the South Florida Quad -- and moved her up one notch into eighth place on Miami's Top 10 performers list.

"Sam started nervous, but responded well in the hammer," Assistant Coach (Throws) Mark Rodriguez said. "She competed at a really high level with some of the top junior athletes in the nation. It was a great experience for her."