Robberts
makes record put at NCAA champs
Reuters
2 June 2001 – Eugene, Oregon - South African Janus Robberts broke a 21-year-old Commonwealth shot put record with a heave of 21.97 metres on his last throw at the U.S. collegiate championships on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Robberts, a student at Southern Methodist University, tied Briton Geoff Capes’s 1980 Commonwealth record of 21.68 metres on his fifth throw, then broke the record on his final attempt.
He also bettered his African record of 21.60 metres set earlier this year.
“This year has really been awesome,” said Robberts, who was seventh in the Sydney Olympics. “I have gone from 21.39 to 21.97. That is amazing.
“I have been struggling for three years since setting a world junior record of 20.39, but I have finally made the progression I thought I could.”
Justin Gatlin dominated the sprint events, winning the 100 and 200 metres to lead the University of Tennessee to the men’s title.
The 19-year-old Gatlin overtook Olympic finalist Kim Collins in the final 25 metres to win the 100 metre title in 10.08 seconds, then came back 45 minutes later to take the 200 metres in a wind-assisted 20.11 seconds.
Collins, a Texas Christian University student from St. Kitts, finished second in the 100 metres in 10.13 seconds. He was disqualified in the 200 metres because of a false start.
World indoor sprint silver medalist Angela Williams became the first woman to win three consecutive 100 metre titles, clocking a wind-assisted 11.05 seconds to lead the University of Southern California to the women’s team championship.
Fellow American Shakedia Jones of the University of California at Los Angeles was second at 11.10 seconds.
France’s Florence Ezeh of Southern Methodist University also claimed a third title, winning the hammer with a lifetime best of 66.85 metres. Only one U.S. collegian has ever thrown farther.
Bahamian Avard Moncur of Auburn University successfully defended his men’s 400 metres title with a speedy 44.84 seconds, and American Bryan Berryhill of Colorado State ran the fastest 1500 metres at the meeting in 14 years to win in 3:37.05.
