Thursday, June 9
Eugene, Ore.
TBA
Bowling Green State University
at
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Eric Evans
Gustafson’s Season Comes To A Close In National Championships
June 09, 2016 | Women's Track and Field
Eugene, Ore. – Aliyah Gustafson wasn't expected to be here. Just over 16 months since tearing her ACL, the redshirt sophomore surprised at the NCAA East Region Preliminary with a pair of personal best throws in the shot put to earn the final spot to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. Thursday night, she gained untold experience for the remainder of her collegiate career, competing as one of the 24 best shot putters in the country.
Gustafson finished 24th with a throw of 49-feet-6.25 as she starred in the center of the track at Historic Hayward Field in TrackTown USA. That mark came in her first throw and she followed with tosses of 48-4.5 and 49-3.5. She sat in 16th place after the first round of throws and in 20th after the second. Gustafson was one of just 12 student-athletes who threw at least 48-feet in each of their three throws.
"It was good to get out here in front of this crowd and to keep up with the elite shot putters," Gustafson said. "I was a little nervous at first, but I just tried to zone in and focus on what I was doing and give it my best shot."
The meet concluded arguably the greatest shot put season in BGSU track and field history. Gustafson was the top ranked shot putter in the Mid-American Conference for much of the year, won the MAC Championship, broke the school record at the NCAA East Regional, and became just the third Falcon to qualify for the NCAA National Championships in the event. Nikki Lessig finished 11th in 1994 and Kerri McClung, the previous school record holder, was 20th in 2005. Gustafson, though, threw the furthest of the trio at the NCAA National Championships.
"This whole season has been a wonderful thing to be a part of," BGSU Throws Coach Matt Conly said. "I told Aliyah to think about where she was a year ago today, rehabbing and starting a summer job. Everything that could go right for us this year has gone right for us. After the year she endured last year, it was a special thing to see unfold."
In order to qualify for finals at the meet, it would have taken Gustafson breaking her own school record again by almost two feet with a toss of 55-0.25. Ole Miss' Raven Saunders broke the collegiate record with a throw of 63-5 to win the National Championship. Oklahoma State's Chase Easley was second at 59-0.25 and Oklahoma's Jessica Woodard finished third at 58-8.
"You can't buy experience like this," BGSU Head Coach Lou Snelling said. "It's so valuable. In future years, when we come back and do this again, it won't be quite so huge."
For BGSU, it marks the fourth consecutive year in which the team has had a representative at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, a feat which has happened only once before in program history – from 1992-95. The team posted its best finish at the MAC Championships since 1999 with Gustafson earning a league championship in the shot put.
Gustafson finished 24th with a throw of 49-feet-6.25 as she starred in the center of the track at Historic Hayward Field in TrackTown USA. That mark came in her first throw and she followed with tosses of 48-4.5 and 49-3.5. She sat in 16th place after the first round of throws and in 20th after the second. Gustafson was one of just 12 student-athletes who threw at least 48-feet in each of their three throws.
"It was good to get out here in front of this crowd and to keep up with the elite shot putters," Gustafson said. "I was a little nervous at first, but I just tried to zone in and focus on what I was doing and give it my best shot."
The meet concluded arguably the greatest shot put season in BGSU track and field history. Gustafson was the top ranked shot putter in the Mid-American Conference for much of the year, won the MAC Championship, broke the school record at the NCAA East Regional, and became just the third Falcon to qualify for the NCAA National Championships in the event. Nikki Lessig finished 11th in 1994 and Kerri McClung, the previous school record holder, was 20th in 2005. Gustafson, though, threw the furthest of the trio at the NCAA National Championships.
"This whole season has been a wonderful thing to be a part of," BGSU Throws Coach Matt Conly said. "I told Aliyah to think about where she was a year ago today, rehabbing and starting a summer job. Everything that could go right for us this year has gone right for us. After the year she endured last year, it was a special thing to see unfold."
In order to qualify for finals at the meet, it would have taken Gustafson breaking her own school record again by almost two feet with a toss of 55-0.25. Ole Miss' Raven Saunders broke the collegiate record with a throw of 63-5 to win the National Championship. Oklahoma State's Chase Easley was second at 59-0.25 and Oklahoma's Jessica Woodard finished third at 58-8.
"You can't buy experience like this," BGSU Head Coach Lou Snelling said. "It's so valuable. In future years, when we come back and do this again, it won't be quite so huge."
For BGSU, it marks the fourth consecutive year in which the team has had a representative at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, a feat which has happened only once before in program history – from 1992-95. The team posted its best finish at the MAC Championships since 1999 with Gustafson earning a league championship in the shot put.
Players Mentioned
Throws
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