Chelsea Cassulo wins NCAA hammer throw title

Arizona State University track and field senior Chelsea Cassulo won the national title in the hammer throw on June 5 at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Cassulo trailed for the majority of the final round of throws as her day's best of 67.35 m in the opening round was only good enough for third when she came up her sixth and final throw. There, she launched the hammer 69.12 m (226-09) to jump from third to first and win her first NCAA title in the process.

Cassulo had never trailed in any of her primary meets this outdoor season in the hammer throw and, despite being the national leader in the event, needed to dig deep to surpass Illinois State's Brittany Smith's best throw of the day of 68.51m (224-09).  

With the victory, Cassulo became ASU's first-ever NCAA champion in the women's hammer throw. She set the school record earlier this year with a mark of 70.07m (229-11) at the NCAA West Prelims, a throw that ranks Cassulo as the sixth-best collegiate performer of all time.

The Sun Devil track and field team will also have favorites in the women's long jump and men's shot put competition taking place today with Christabel Nettey and Jordan Clarke, respectively.