Hadley crowned NCAA javelin champion

(WAVERLY, Iowa – May 28, 2016) The final collegiate meet donning Cal Lutheran colors for Allie Hadley was more than memorable as she claimed the 2016 NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field national javelin title.

Fellow senior Amanda Hamilton also earned a trip to the podium, finishing fifth in the triple jump at the championships hosted by Wartburg College May 28. 

Both athletes became repeat All-America honorees for the women’s track and field team.

On a perfect weather day that featured clouds, warmth and a slight tail wind, which is ideal for Hadley, things fell into place.

Hadley wasted no time making a statement that she was back in business with the would-be winning throw of 48.21m (158-02.00 feet) on her first attempt to clinch the ultimate prize after finishing fourth a year ago, as the National Runner-Up in 2014 and seventh as a freshman.

“It feels absolutely incredible and pretty surreal,” Hadley said. “Since my winning throw was on my first attempt, it was nice to be able to go through all my throws relaxed and enjoy the process.”

She also shared that the game plan was to have fun and enjoy the moment, knowing that as long as she kept that mentality then a good throw would come.

While previous years had motivated the senior, she knew it was her last hurrah to reach the top of the podium as a collegiate athlete.

“I was hungrier this year to get that national championship than any other year. Knowing I only had one more chance was what fired me up,” she said.

Earning the top honor is a true testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment that she has put in throughout her career from the runway to the weight room and everywhere in between.

“To finally claim that prize felt unreal. It was just a token of all the hard work my coaches and I have put in,” she said.

A phenomenal career concluded with yet another significant accomplishment beyond earning a national title. Hadley became the first Cal Lutheran student-athlete to become a four-time NCAA Division III All-America honoree.

Additionally, Hadley became just the third individual NCAA National Champion to come out of Cal Lutheran, joining 2015 teammate Melissa Skiba (5K) and javelin predecessor Britlyn Garrett (2012) as the only other gold medalists.

Across the track at the jumping pits, Hamilton pulled double-duty in her final meet as she has done throughout her career. Hamilton, who sprained her ankle a week ago, matched her qualifying mark of 12.24m, to finish fifth in the triple jump, the same position she entered in. Her third attempt of the day was her best of the meet. A four-time qualifier, Hamilton became a two-time All-American in the event after placing sixth in 2013.

On the opening day of the three-day meet, Hamilton competed in the long jump, recording a best-mark of 5.62m to place 11^th. She improved on each attempt, but missed out on advancing to the finals.

Hadley won the javelin by over a meter and a half (more than 5 feet). The triple jump champion in 2016 came from Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Bria Halama, whose mark of 12.86m was a new stadium record and just .01 of a meter off her own DIII record. Winning the long jump with a stadium record distance of 6.02m was sophomore Amelia Glueck from Illinois Wesleyan.

Both Cal Lutheran student-athletes have been instrumental to the success of the Regals program and have left their respective marks in the record books.

Results: 2016 NCAA Championships
Cal Lutheran Sports Instagram: http://instagram.com/clusports#
Twitter: https://twitter.com/clusports 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clusports