The seventh Ashland Alumni Open began on Friday (April 29) with four divisions of hammer throwers – and Ashland University's men and women came away with three improved and one new provisional for Division II nationals.
The new AU provisional for the 2016 Division II Championships (May 26-28 in Bradenton, Fla.) was earned by senior Jared Whitcomb, whose top mark was 55.61 meters. He becomes the fifth AU men's hammer thrower to earn at least a provisional mark this spring.
Junior Bryn Campbell, who came into Friday with the fourth-best distance in the country, improved on his provisional mark at 65.51 meters. Junior Jordan Crayon, third in Division II coming into the weekend, fell just short of his season-best distance in the only home meet of the season (66.71 meters).
Freshman Stephen Pop improved on his recently-attained provisional by 1.58 meters to 55.57, and freshman MacKenzie Leigh upper her previous season-best provisional by 1.27 meters to 55.97.
In the women's hammer college division, freshman Natalie Helenthal won with a top heave of 53.91 meters, and freshman Kala Strong was third at 49.79.
The bulk of the 2016 Ashland Alumni Open will be contested on Saturday (April 30). The schedule for the day is here - http://static.psbin.com/c/3/vbyzjikzt96y94/Ashland_Alumni_Open_Schedule_2016.pdf.
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