Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Big 12 Championships
Tech Throwers Take Two Titles On Day One In Ames
May 15, 2015 | Track and Field
May 15, 2015
Kole Weldon won Tech's first men's Big 12 hammer throw title, and Hannah Carson followed suit with the Lady Raiders' first Big 12 title in the javelin, on Friday, in Ames, Iowa.
"Our kids came out and did what they were supposed to do today," Kittley said. "They took care of business. If we can continue to take care of ourselves like that, things will fall into place for us. Performances like that really get the rest of the team fired up, too. I'm excited to see what happens tomorrow."
Weldon was in second place heading into the finals, but was not about to let the chance for his first conference title to slip away. Weldon launched the hammer 61.84m/202-10 on his fourth throw to take the lead, and never looked back. His fifth throw was a school-record launch of 63.05m/206-10, smashing his own school record by just under a meter. From there he unloaded a toss of 62.60m/205-4 on his final attempt, another throw that would have beaten his previous school record.
"I'm so proud of Kole for finally getting that Big 12 title," Kittley said. "He's worked so hard for it, and no one deserves it more. He has always been so great for us from a team standpoint, being the high point scorer at last year's championships, so it was great to see him get that done today. Now, I think this will carry over for him in the shot put and discus, as well."
Carson was equally as impressive in the women's javelin. She had the lead after her first throw, was passed after the second round of throws and then regained the lead in round three with a season-best launch of 56.36m/184-11, less than a centimeter off of her personal best and school record. That throw was enough to earn her first Big 12 title.
"This was so great for Hannah," Kittley said. "She is a two-time All-American in this event, but was battling injuries at this time last year, so for her to come in and get this win, and her first Big 12 title, was outstanding. I'm very proud of her."
Texas Tech also did some damage in the pole vault. On the women's side, Haley Cook placed fourth, with a personal-best leap of 4.08m/13-4.50, and Reece Timmons took sixth, clearing 3.93m/12-10.75. The pair combined for eight team points.
Kyle Thompson earned 5.75 team points on the men's side, after his clearance of 5.20m/17-0.75 vaulted him into a tie for second place.
The Tech men are currently in fifth, with 15.75 team points, and the women are sitting in fifth place as well, with 21 team points.
In the combined events, Natalie Thompson picked up a personal-best mark in the high jump (1.79m/5-10.25), and is currently second in the heptathlon, with 3,286 points. Amani Nesmith (2,986) is in seventh place, and Kami Norton (2,913) is in eighth place, with three events remaining.
At the halfway point of the decathlon, Tyler Nelson is currently fourth, with 3,753 points, and Cameron Retherford sits in eighth place, with 3,476 points.
Action continues for Texas Tech track & tomorrow at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships tomorrow, as the combined events begin at 10 a.m., the field events start at noon and the running event prelims get underway at 3:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
