June 23, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa/KINGSTON, Jamaica -
USA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS | JAMAICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
Former San Diego State track and field athlete Whitney Ashley qualified for the IAAF World Championships in the discus throw with a second-place finish at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ashley, who won an NCAA title in the discus while competing for the Aztecs at the 2012 outdoor championships, came in second today out of 16 entrants in the USA Championships with a throw of 200 feet, 9 inches (61.19 meters). Last year she was 22nd at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Ashley's 200-09 came on her sixth and final attempt. She started with a foul, 193-03 (58.91m) and 200-04 (61.07m) in her first flight and then a 198-00 (60.35m), 197-03 (60.13m) and the 200-09 (61.19m) in the finals. Nike's Gia Lewis-Smallwood won the event with a mark of 213-08 (65.13m).
With a top-three finish at the USA Championships and an IAAF "B" standard, Ashley qualified for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, from Aug. 10-18. Her season-best mark is 202-02.75 (61.64m).
"It hasn't really set in yet," Ashley said in a post meet press conference. "It's overwhelming. It's exciting and it's what we were gunning for this year. You never know what's going to happen. I tried to stay composed and I did it."
Junior Shanieka Thomas, meanwhile, finished third in the triple jump at the Jamaican National Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. Thomas, who won a NCAA title in the event earlier this month, took third with a leap of 45 feet, 10 inches (13.97m). Kimberly Williams won the triple jump at 47-03.00 (14.40m).
2013 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Drake Stadium - Des Moines, Iowa
June 20-23, 2013
No Team Scores
Individual Results
Discus Throw (out of 16 entrants)
1. Gia Lewis-Smallwood (Nike) - 213-08 (65.13m)
2. Whitney Ashley (Chula Vista Elite) - 200-09 (61.19m)
2013 Jamaican National Championships
National Stadium - Kingston & St. Andrew, Jamaica
June 20-23, 2013
No Team Scores
Individual Results
Triple Jump (out of 4 entrants)
1. Kimberly Williams (Unattached) - 47-03.00 (14.40m) (wind-aided)
3. Shanieka Thomas (SDSU) - 45-10.00 (13.97m)