University of Georgia Athletics
Dahlgren Wins National Title In Hammer Throw
June 12, 2006 | General
SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- Junior Jennifer Dahlgren recorded a throw of 226 feet, 4 inches to win the national title and earn All-American honors in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs' 25.75 points gave them a ninth-place finish at the meet.
The overall winners of the meet were the Auburn women and the Florida State men.
In addition to Dahlgren's finish, sophomore Martin Maric and senior Kierney Jackson were also named All-Americans during the meet's final day at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. Cross country coach and assistant track coach Dave Hartman was also named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's East Region Women's Distance Coach of the Year on Saturday.
"These women have set a standard of excellence for our program and elevated it to a very high level," said Georgia head coach Wayne Norton, who has now led his women's team to three-straight top-10 finishes at the national outdoor meet. "I feel like we had a pretty good last day and this is kind of a cap to a great season."
Dahlgren, who owns the Southeastern Conference, NCAA and South American records with a throw earlier this season of 236-3, qualified for the hammer final with a throw of 213-5 on Thursday. After an initial toss of 211-1 on Saturday, Dahlgren answered Southern California freshman Eva Orban's throw of 220-11 with her winning mark.
"I had a shaky qualifying round, but I learned from it and was able to come out and have a solid performance," said Dahlgren, who scored 10 points with her win. "I knew there could be a new leader at any time so I'm glad I was able to have that big second throw."
Dahlgren, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, completed the 2006 season with SEC and NCAA titles in both the weight and hammer throw and was especially pleased to win a national championship in her Olympic event.
"This title feels great because my true event is the hammer and this is a title I really wanted," she said. "I am proud of the weight title, but this was my goal this whole season."
Following the hammer finals, Georgia throws and assistant coach Don Babbitt said his junior had an incredible year.
"With two national championships and an NCAA record, you could not ask for a much better year," Babbitt said. "She still has a lot of upside left so we will see what happens next season."
Norton agreed that Dahlgren performed up to her potential when it counted this season.
"When you are top ranked in an event, you come in with a little pressure on you but she took care of business and I am really excited for her," Norton said.
On the men's side, sophomore Martin Maric picked up an All-American certificate after finishing sixth in the javelin (228-2). Battling a sore elbow, Maric launched his best throw on his first attempt and improved his qualifying mark by almost three feet. Maric's finish gave the Bulldogs 3 points for the meet and a tie for 52nd place.
"Martin surprised a lot of people this season by scoring in his No. 2 event since the discus really is his specialty," Norton said. "He had a very satisfying finale to the year."
Senior Kierney Jackson was the third student-athlete to earn All-American honors for Georgia on Saturday. Jackson tied for sixth in the pole vault with Southern California's Brysun Stately, McNeese State's Michelle Rzepka and Elouise Rudy after clearing a height of 12-3.50. Jackson, who won both indoor and outdoor SEC titles in 2006 and was also an indoor All-American, added another 1.50 points to the Lady Bulldogs' total.
"I thought it was really nice for Kierney to score at her last meet and anytime someone finishes in the top eight, that is very commendable," said Norton. "We are really proud of what she has accomplished."
The final three events of the heptathlon were also completed on Saturday and junior Sarah Gretzmacher, who was the final competitor chosen in the field of 28, finished in 16th place with 5,203 points. The highlight of Gretzmacher's second day of competition was her fourth-place mark in the javelin (130-10) to add 665 points to her total. She also jumped 18-3.75 in the long jump and clocked a 2:27.19 in the 800.
"This was a very important meet for Sarah since she showed she can consistently score 5,200 points in the heptathlon," Norton said. "We look forward to her coming back and improving even more next season."
For complete results of the NCAA Championships, please visit georgiadogs.com and click on the "Livestats" link under the Events & Results heading.
The overall winners of the meet were the Auburn women and the Florida State men.
In addition to Dahlgren's finish, sophomore Martin Maric and senior Kierney Jackson were also named All-Americans during the meet's final day at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. Cross country coach and assistant track coach Dave Hartman was also named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's East Region Women's Distance Coach of the Year on Saturday.
"These women have set a standard of excellence for our program and elevated it to a very high level," said Georgia head coach Wayne Norton, who has now led his women's team to three-straight top-10 finishes at the national outdoor meet. "I feel like we had a pretty good last day and this is kind of a cap to a great season."
Dahlgren, who owns the Southeastern Conference, NCAA and South American records with a throw earlier this season of 236-3, qualified for the hammer final with a throw of 213-5 on Thursday. After an initial toss of 211-1 on Saturday, Dahlgren answered Southern California freshman Eva Orban's throw of 220-11 with her winning mark.
"I had a shaky qualifying round, but I learned from it and was able to come out and have a solid performance," said Dahlgren, who scored 10 points with her win. "I knew there could be a new leader at any time so I'm glad I was able to have that big second throw."
Dahlgren, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, completed the 2006 season with SEC and NCAA titles in both the weight and hammer throw and was especially pleased to win a national championship in her Olympic event.
"This title feels great because my true event is the hammer and this is a title I really wanted," she said. "I am proud of the weight title, but this was my goal this whole season."
Following the hammer finals, Georgia throws and assistant coach Don Babbitt said his junior had an incredible year.
"With two national championships and an NCAA record, you could not ask for a much better year," Babbitt said. "She still has a lot of upside left so we will see what happens next season."
Norton agreed that Dahlgren performed up to her potential when it counted this season.
"When you are top ranked in an event, you come in with a little pressure on you but she took care of business and I am really excited for her," Norton said.
On the men's side, sophomore Martin Maric picked up an All-American certificate after finishing sixth in the javelin (228-2). Battling a sore elbow, Maric launched his best throw on his first attempt and improved his qualifying mark by almost three feet. Maric's finish gave the Bulldogs 3 points for the meet and a tie for 52nd place.
"Martin surprised a lot of people this season by scoring in his No. 2 event since the discus really is his specialty," Norton said. "He had a very satisfying finale to the year."
Senior Kierney Jackson was the third student-athlete to earn All-American honors for Georgia on Saturday. Jackson tied for sixth in the pole vault with Southern California's Brysun Stately, McNeese State's Michelle Rzepka and Elouise Rudy after clearing a height of 12-3.50. Jackson, who won both indoor and outdoor SEC titles in 2006 and was also an indoor All-American, added another 1.50 points to the Lady Bulldogs' total.
"I thought it was really nice for Kierney to score at her last meet and anytime someone finishes in the top eight, that is very commendable," said Norton. "We are really proud of what she has accomplished."
The final three events of the heptathlon were also completed on Saturday and junior Sarah Gretzmacher, who was the final competitor chosen in the field of 28, finished in 16th place with 5,203 points. The highlight of Gretzmacher's second day of competition was her fourth-place mark in the javelin (130-10) to add 665 points to her total. She also jumped 18-3.75 in the long jump and clocked a 2:27.19 in the 800.
"This was a very important meet for Sarah since she showed she can consistently score 5,200 points in the heptathlon," Norton said. "We look forward to her coming back and improving even more next season."
For complete results of the NCAA Championships, please visit georgiadogs.com and click on the "Livestats" link under the Events & Results heading.
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