NCAA wSP: Raven Saunders 61-1¼ AJR

[unclezadok]

When we look back at this year's NCAA in future years we may conclude that the most significant mark was Raven Saunders 61-1 1/4.

[jazzcyclist]

I was there. Saunders and Bliss put on a show. How often has 18.47m (60-7.25") not been good enough to win an NCAA meet? Saunders, a relatively small freshman, defies the stereotype of the typical NCAA shot put champion.

[26mi235]

In indoor 20.1x is pretty impressive for a still maturing sprinter, but, yes, normally shot putters take a while to emerge, with a few notable exceptions.

[bruce3404]

I was there as well. Smoking good final two series' with Bliss edging Saunders in R5 and then Saunders stepping right up and throwing a foot further. Let's also give props to Brittany Mann of Oregon who came in seeded #11, threw a 12" PR and school record in R6 and waltzed off with 3rd place. And while we're at it, why did the NCAA schedule the excellent Men's WT against 24 heats on the track? They could have easily adjusted the time and allowed fans of field events to watch the great battle between Lihrman and McCullough, a battle that Lihrman won with his final throw.

[Bruce Kritzler]

When we look back at this year's NCAA in future years we may conclude that the most significant mark was Raven Saunders 61-1 1/4.

Or Kendell Williams CR in Pentathlon.

[aaronk]

The thing that's really amazing about Saunders is that she doesn't believe in INCHing her PR's upward.

In late December of 2013, she made a massive jump forward from tthe mid-40's to 52-3, then added another FOOT a few days later, hitting 53-8.
Then at the 2014 NBIN, she added another three FEET. hitting the HSR of 56-7.50.

Then in early January of this year (or was it late December?), she leapt forward another FOOT, hitting 57-10.50.

Then she jumped forward another FOOT, hitting 59-0.25.

And now she's added another two FEET, with her 61-1.25.

The way she's going, she might be challenging Queen Valerie in Rio!!

[26mi235]

So, in two years she had added 15 feet, with more than half of that in the last 15 months. Val is still a ways and it gets harder the further you are, but it is a massively impressive improvement, speaking to what must be a combination of increases in strength and technique. How much 'easy' gain is left for her?

[bruce3404]

She's a real beast of a competitor, but her size might be a hindrance on the international stage. Guess we'll just have to wait and see, but she's got quality coaching and a tenacious attitude and that should at least put her on the Rio (and maybe Beijing) teams.

[Sasuke]

She's a real beast of a competitor, but her size might be a hindrance on the international stage. Guess we'll just have to wait and see, but she's got quality coaching and a tenacious attitude and that should at least put her on the Rio (and maybe Beijing) teams.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Great attitude, a bit short (doesn't have a massive body like queen Val or others). I'd add I would have never thought she could throw that far (think of Turkey's Emel Dereli... 18 as a youth two years ago and no improvements since then).

[norunner]

She's a real beast of a competitor, but her size might be a hindrance on the international stage. Guess we'll just have to wait and see, but she's got quality coaching and a tenacious attitude and that should at least put her on the Rio (and maybe Beijing) teams.

Spinners don't have to be tall, look at Hoffa.