University of Missouri
NCAA Championships
Kearsten Peoples Claims NCAA Title
3/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - It's been a long time coming for senior Kearsten Peoples, but she can finally say, with utmost certainty, that she is the NCAA Indoor National Champion in the women's weight throw. Coming into the meet as the solid national leader in the event, Peoples left little doubtthat she belonged at the top, claiming the NCAA Championship title by six inches with her besttoss of 22.71m (74-6.25) on Friday (March 13). Also taking to the track on day one of the NCAA Indoor National Championships was junior Markesh Woodson, who qualified himself for the 60m dash finals, set to go off Saturday evening.
"I'm really excited. I came into the event just prepared for girls to show up," Peoples said. "You never really know what's going to happen at the Championships,so I just knew that I had to bring my 'A' game and not focus on the competition, just focus on myself."
Peoples battled from the start, kicking off the competition in second place until her third attempt of 22.18m (72-9.25) put her into first heading into finals. On the fourth round, Peoples was knocked back down to second after UCLA's Ida Storm hit 21.67m (71-1.25). She didn't stay down for long, though, responding on her next attempt with her best toss of the series - 22.71m (74-6.25).
Peoples joins quite the elite group of Mizzou women who have won NCAA Indoor Championships, including Natasha Kaiser-Brown (1989, 400m dash), and the four women of the 2001 title-winningdistance medley relay team - Ashley Wysong, Ann Marie Brooks, Kerry Hils, and Sunny Gilbert.
She also adds her name to the NCAA Championship meet record books, as her winning throw was the eighth-best performance in meet history. She already holds the No. 7 mark in collegiate history with her PR from earlier this season, 22.84m (74-11.25).
Woodson was the second competitor of the evening for the Tigers, rolling through the 60m dash prelims in 6.60. This time, which ties his previous PR and school record from two years ago, was his second-best performance this season. His top finish came two weeks ago at the SEC Championships were he clocked a new PR, and school record, of 6.58 to place second.
Peoples and Woodson will both be back in action tomorrow, with the finals of the 60m dash and the shot put competition. Joining Peoples in the ring for the shot put is No. 5 ranked Jill Rushin, who is coming off a lifetime best season with her top throw of 17.61m (57-9.50).
"I think tomorrow is going to be really fun," Peoples said. "There's nothing better than competing at the national championships. All these people here cheering, there's really no one here against you. It's going to be really awesome [having Rushin there] to cheer each other on and keep the adrenaline up. It's really exciting."
Events at the Randal Tyson Track Center will begin at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday (March 14) with the women's shot put. Woodson will go in the 60m dash finals at 7:10 p.m. For the latest on your Tigers, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.
Players Mentioned
