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News28 Apr 2006


Gerraughty Wins Fourth Women’s Shot Put Title - Penn Relays Day 1

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Philadephia, USALaura Gerraughty joined a select group with her fourth victory in the College Women’s Shot Put with at throw of 18.05m at the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field on Thursday (27 April).

The North Carolina senior became only the second athlete in the 112 year history of the annual event, male or female, to win a college event four times. The other was Diane Guthrie-Gresham of George Mason, who won the Heptathlon in 1991-92, and 1994-95. No male has ever accomplished the feat.

In all, Gerraughty has six Penn individual wins starting along with a college Discus win in 2003 and a Shot Put win while at New Hampshire's Nashua High School in 2000. She’ll try for No. 7 when she competes in the Discus Throw on 28 April during the second day of the three-day meeting.

Back from career-threatening injury

Gerraughty’s winning effort of 18.05m did not surpass her meet record of 18.44m set in 2003 but the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials champion is just glad to return to competition after a career-threatening injury to her wrist that forced her to sit out the 2005 season.

Gerraughty developed bone spurs in both her wrists that made it impossible to bend far enough to rest the shot put on her neck. The condition is believed to be caused by years of pounding on her body as a youth gymnast along with chronic inflexibility.

The condition lingered throughout her career at North Carolina and intensified when bone spurs began to develop on her right throwing hand after changing from the glide to the spin technique.

The condition became so severe before the 2005 outdoor season that Gerraughty thought that she would never be able to throw again.

“It’s been a battle back from injury,” Gerraughty said. “It’s a blessing to be here and competing again and to get a second chance."

Gerraughty, who has thrown 19.15m indoors, was hoping to surpass her outdoor best of 18.82m set in 2003 and approach 19.00m on Thursday after a productive warm-up and a season-best of 18.59m the previous week at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships where she also took top honors in the Discus and Hammer throws.

Gerraughty, however, could only muster one effort over 18.00m on her penultimate throw. She walked out of the competition angrily after fouling on her sixth and final attempt.

“My practices are going well. My technique is solid. I know what I need to do, but I have been stuck at the same distance for awhile,” Gerraughty said. “I try to keep it in perspective but it’s frustrating when things aren’t going well."

Other Day 1 Winners

The Villanova women’s distance medley relay of Frances Koons (1200m), Tiera Fletcher (400m), Akilah Vargas (800m) and Marina Muncan (SCG) (1600m) timed 10:57.03 after Muncan outdueled Stanford’s Ari Lambie with a 4:31.8 anchor leg.

Other women’s winners on Thursday included Dominique Darden of Miami in the 400m Hurdles (55.60), Tomika Ferguson of Toledo in the Long Jump (6.19m) and Jenn Leatherman of Penn State in the Hammer (65.12m).

In women’s relay qualifying, Texas turned in the top qualifying mark at 43.78. In the 4 x 400m, a Miami team of Krista Simkins, Ginou Etienne, Charlette Greggs and Ena Leufroy had the fastest time at 3:31.08. A Texas quartet of Sheretta Jones, LaTashia Kerr, Jerrika Chapple and Melaine Walker posted the No. 2 mark with a heat win 3:33.21.

[Click here for Day 1 Results.]

Kirby Lee for the IAAF

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