LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY TRACK AND FIELD PAGE
LINK – USATF 2017 OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS HOME PAGE
The last few months have been a whirlwind for Jordan Crayon.
- On April 29, Crayon moved into sixth place on the NCAA Division II all-time-best outdoor men's hammer throwers list with a top heave of 69.87 meters/229-feet-2 at the Ashland Alumni Open.
- On May 25, he finished second in the nation in the hammer at D-II outdoor nationals at 68.77 meters/225-feet-7, giving him his fourth and final All-American honor as an Eagle.
- In the 2017 Ashland Summer Series on Thursday (June 15), Crayon reached the 70-meter mark in the hammer for the first time, launching a top effort of 70.71 meters/231-feet-11¾.
- On Monday (June 19), it was announced that Crayon will stay in the AU program as assistant throws coach/assistant director of track and field operations.
"Coming to Ashland, I had no expectations," Crayon said. "I came here to play football originally, so the fact that I can leave here a four-time All-American exceeds every expectation possible. I'm just glad to have been a part of this program, and I'm glad I am able to give back now.
"It's actually going to be a fun transition. A lot of them joke around and call me 'Coach Cray' now. I'll be able to lead them from more of a mentor standpoint rather than as a teammate. Being able to work under coach (Jud) Logan and learn from him from a coaching standpoint is going to be amazing. I am looking forward to it."
- Finally, on Thursday (June 22) at 5:45 p.m. Eastern time, Crayon will compete in the men's hammer at the USA Track & Field 2017 Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Included in that men's hammer field is former Eagle and United States Olympian Kibwe Johnson.
Crayon will go into the championships with some momentum following a personal-record throw at the Summer Series.
"Coach Logan preaches 'consistency breeds success,'" said Crayon. "In my head, I just said, 'be consistent.' So I thought it was another 68-, 69-meter throw, and come to find out it was 70.71. That was the success that was bred off the consistency. I couldn't have been happier at that point and time."
Now, Crayon will have the opportunity to showcase his ability at the national level in Sacramento.
"The goal is to make the U.S. final. That would be huge for me...to put my name on the map so people know who I am," he said.
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