Greene posts career-best finish in hammer throw at NCAA Division II Championships
5/23/2019 3:18:00 PM | Women's Outdoor Track and Field
KINGSVILLE, Texas - Sunflower Greene added another first to her long list of accomplishments on Thursday at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Greene placed fifth in the hammer throw, becoming the first Millersville field athlete to earn an All-America finish in two different events.
Already with a pair of top-eight finishes in the shot put in her Marauder career, Greene had placed 20th and 19th in her two previous trips to the outdoor championships. She also joins Amanda Myers as Millersville's only three-time outdoor All-Americans.
"I'm happy to finish in the top eight and bring home some hardware," said Greene. "As usual, I'm happy but unsatisfied. I went in hoping to hit 60 meters but didn't have one connect today."
"When it comes down to it, (Greene) is an athlete at the core," said Millersville throws coach Brittany Hartman. "She has a lot of power and explosiveness that transfer well into knowing how to move the implements."
Greene has a chance to post a top-eight finish in a third event as well, with the discus competition slated for Friday.
Greene's entered the hammer throw as the No. 1 seed, having hit 200-3 at the Millersville Metrics in early April. Her best in the sixth meets since was 196-4. On Thursday, Greene launched the hammer 182-10 on her second attempt. That was good enough to put her in the finals ranked third behind Texas A&M-Kingsville's Rachael Somoye and Ashland's MacKenzie Leigh.
Looking to improve her standing, Greene fouled on her fourth attempt, threw 181-8 on her fifth and fouled on her sixth. Somoye's 188-10, established on her first attempt, held up for the national championship. Kianna Clark of Lewis jumped into second with a 188-2 on her fifth throw. Natalie Helenthal of Ashland moved into third with a toss of 184-10 on her first attempt in the finals.
"Her performance was consistent and controlled but was lacking some connection," said Hartman. "The fact that she was controlled today was probably the determining factor in her placing. Overall, the competition was a little flat for all, so I think it made it hard for anyone to rally and do something big."
Greene's discus flight starts Friday at 2:30 p.m. She will be joined by teammate Aliyah Striver in the shot put on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
Already with a pair of top-eight finishes in the shot put in her Marauder career, Greene had placed 20th and 19th in her two previous trips to the outdoor championships. She also joins Amanda Myers as Millersville's only three-time outdoor All-Americans.
"I'm happy to finish in the top eight and bring home some hardware," said Greene. "As usual, I'm happy but unsatisfied. I went in hoping to hit 60 meters but didn't have one connect today."
"When it comes down to it, (Greene) is an athlete at the core," said Millersville throws coach Brittany Hartman. "She has a lot of power and explosiveness that transfer well into knowing how to move the implements."
Greene has a chance to post a top-eight finish in a third event as well, with the discus competition slated for Friday.
Greene's entered the hammer throw as the No. 1 seed, having hit 200-3 at the Millersville Metrics in early April. Her best in the sixth meets since was 196-4. On Thursday, Greene launched the hammer 182-10 on her second attempt. That was good enough to put her in the finals ranked third behind Texas A&M-Kingsville's Rachael Somoye and Ashland's MacKenzie Leigh.
Looking to improve her standing, Greene fouled on her fourth attempt, threw 181-8 on her fifth and fouled on her sixth. Somoye's 188-10, established on her first attempt, held up for the national championship. Kianna Clark of Lewis jumped into second with a 188-2 on her fifth throw. Natalie Helenthal of Ashland moved into third with a toss of 184-10 on her first attempt in the finals.
"Her performance was consistent and controlled but was lacking some connection," said Hartman. "The fact that she was controlled today was probably the determining factor in her placing. Overall, the competition was a little flat for all, so I think it made it hard for anyone to rally and do something big."
Greene's discus flight starts Friday at 2:30 p.m. She will be joined by teammate Aliyah Striver in the shot put on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Throws
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Javelin
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Throws
/ Women's Outdoor Track and Fieldvs. Millersville Metrics
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