Collegiate javelin record for Maggie Malone, NCAA decathlon title for Lindon Victor

EUGENE – Texas A&M senior Maggie Malone broke the collegiate record as she won the NCAA javelin title with a throw of 204 feet as junior Lindon Victor became the first Aggie to win a NCAA decathlon with a score of 8,379 during Thursday's action in front of 9,027 fans at Hayward Field.

Malone's winning toss bettered the collegiate record of 202-10 (61.82) set in 2004 by Irina Kharun of Indiana. Victor's score is the fifth best performance on the all-time collegiate list just behind his career best score of 8,446 from his SEC title.

Joining Malone on the javelin podium was her younger, sister Audrey, who threw a career best of 187-2 (57.06) in the final round to finish third. It was the best throw in NCAA history to finish third. Combined they produced 16 points for the team score. Audrey's mark is the No. 2 performer on the Texas A&M all-time list.

"This has been the most amazing season," noted Maggie Malone. "Last year was kind of a devastation for me. So, to have my sister here with me and motivate me the whole time I feel blessed. You can't ask for a better day. I just wanted to score points for my team, last year I didn't score since I placed ninth.

"I was just trying to hit 62 meters (Olympic qualifying standard of 203-5). My first throw (201-11) I didn't know how far it was. I was thinking it was 57 meters (187-0). I was happy to get that first one out there and build off that."

Texas Tech's Hannah Carson was the runner-up with a throw of 200-9 (61.20) from the sixth round. She started with a 199-7 (60.84) in the first round. It's the first time in NCAA history for two women to throw over 200 feet in the same competition.

Malone's incredible series included marks of 201-11 (61.55), 198-4 (60.45), foul, 198-6 (60.51), 204-0 (62.19) and 195-8 (59.64). She is now No. 4 on the American all-time list and also has the No. 1, No. 4, No. 7 and No. 8 all-time collegiate performances.

"My coach told me I need to be fast, so I scooted my mark back half a foot and just pushed it speed-wise. I got some more speed and worked on my technique a little bit."

Victor claimed the first NCAA decathlon title by an Aggie while joining his brother, Kurt Felix, who won the 2012 title with Boise State. Runner-up to Victor was Wisconsin's Zach Ziemek with 8,300 points while two-time defending NCAA champion Maicel Uibo fo Georgia placed third with 8,294 points. In fourth and fifth placed where Pau Tonnesen of Arizona (8,103) and Stanford's Harrison Williams (8,032).

It was the first time for two individuals to score over 8,300 points in meet history and the top five scores were the best ever marks for second through fifth place.

"I'm happy that I could follow my brother's footsteps and win a NCAA title," said Victor. "It took every bit of 8,379 to win this title. It was a very competitive field. I'm happy it's over with and now I'm looking forward to Rio and some rest."

Victor's second day opened with a career best of 14.68 in the 110m hurdles, topping the 14.70 he recorded in the SEC meet.

An opening throw of 175-5 (53.46) in the discus bettered the NCAA meet record of 167-3 (50.98) set by Washington's Mike Ramos in 1986. It was also the best throw in any decathlon hosted at Hayward Field, breaking the mark of 173-0 (52.74) by Bryan Clay during the 2008 Olympic Trials. The next best discus throw in the NCAA decathlon field was a 153-11 (46.91) by Wisconsin's Zach Ziemek.

A clearance of 14-9 (4.50) scored Victor 760 points in the pole vault. He missed on three attempts at a career best of 15-1 (460). In the javelin a mark of 215-4 (65.63) in the third round produced 823 points to give Victor a total of 7,723 heading into the 1,500m. His lead over Ziemek was 88 points.

"I was really happy with the discus, even though I didn't PR. The javelin was disappointing. I haven't thrown that short in a decathlon for a while. I'm pleased I was able to at least throw 65 meters to win this title."

Victor clocked a career best of 4:43.81 for 656 points in the 1,500m to secure the victory as Ziemek tallied 665 points from a 4:42.52. Uibo, meanwhile, scored 761 points off a 4:27.53.

"I knew I was fit to run a good time in the 1,500m, but I had to call my brother before the race since he did it to get some advice," said Victor. "I ran a PR and I was happy to get the victory."

Two-time defending champion Shamier Little led the qualifying field into Saturday's final of the 400m hurdles with a time of 55.48 seconds. Arizona's Sage Watson (55.80) has the second best time as runner-up in the same heat with Little. On Saturday Little will challenge for her third consecutive NCAA title in the 400m hurdles.

The Aggie women posted a season best of 42.92 to claim the first semifinal heat of the 4x100 relay with a line-up of Jennifer Madu, Diamond Spaulding, Brenessa Thompson and Aaliyah Brown. They finished ahead of Oregon (43.01) and San Diego State (43.55) while Arkansas (43.84) and Texas (43.85) were fourth and fifth.

It's the 10^th consecutive year for the Texas A&M women to advance to the NCAA final in the 4x100 relay, where they have produced six titles and three runner-up finishes over the previous nine years.

Advancing to the final with the Aggies were Oregon, LSU (43.24), USC (43.39), San Diego State, Kentucky (43.55), Tennessee (43.66), and Florida (43.86). Arkansas and Texas did not advance.

Madu also advanced in the 100m with an 11.27 clocking for third place in the first semifinal heat. It's the fourth consecutive year for Madu to reach the NCAA final in the 100m, and she is the first Aggie, male or female, to accomplish the feat.

Also running in the 100m semifinal were Aaliyah Brown (11.37) and Brenessa Thompson (11.44), who placed third and fifth in the same heat. In the 200m, Brown ran 23.55 and Thompson clocked 23.96.
Katie Willard produced a career best of 2:05.36 in the semifinal of the 800m, placing fifth in her heat and 16^th overall. Jazmine Fray led her heat through 400m (59.25) and 600m (1:32.25), but finished sixth with a 2:07.82 and 21^st overall. In the 400m, Briyahna Desrosiers clocked 54.16 for sixth place in her semifinal heat to place 20^th.

The women's 4x400 crew placed third in the semifinal heat with a 3:33.46 and did not advance on time. The crew included Desrosiers, Jarra Owens, Fray and Little as they placed 12^th overall.

Joining the Malone sisters in the javelin was Madalaine Stulce, who threw in the first flight and produced a mark of 156-9 (47.79) to place 21^st.

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Aaliyah Brown

Briyahna Desrosiers

Jazmine Fray

Shamier Little

Jennifer Madu

Maggie Malone

Jarra Owens

Diamond Spaulding

Madalaine Stulce

Brenessa Thompson

Lindon Victor

Katie Willard

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