EUGENE, Ore. – For the first time since 2014, the Sun Devil track & field program has an NCAA National Champion, as redshirt junior Maggie Ewen captured her first individual title in historic fashion.
Breaking records describes Ewen's season perfectly, as the St. Francis-native rewrote the American collegiate record on two occasions this season and had a foul at the NCAA West Regional that appeared to be the new NCAA Collegiate record. She continued the record-breaking trend on the nation's biggest stage in the women's hammer throw on Thursday, finally shattering the NCAA record by over a foot with a throw of 73.32m (240-7) on her third toss.
"My first two throws didn't go so well and I threw 67 meters on my second throw, so I thought that might be good enough for me to win the meet," said Ewen. "But in the back of my mind, I was thinking let's give them something to chase and I made it happen on the third throw.
"It feels great. I want to represent ASU as best as I can, because they've done everything for me. So I am really glad that everything was able to happen the way we wanted it to."
The redshirt junior becomes just the second ASU female to win the hammer throw title, joining former Chelsea Cassulo in 2013.
Friday features senior thrower Kyle Long in the men's discus throw at 5:05 p.m. PT. You can watch that event here.
Breaking records describes Ewen's season perfectly, as the St. Francis-native rewrote the American collegiate record on two occasions this season and had a foul at the NCAA West Regional that appeared to be the new NCAA Collegiate record. She continued the record-breaking trend on the nation's biggest stage in the women's hammer throw on Thursday, finally shattering the NCAA record by over a foot with a throw of 73.32m (240-7) on her third toss.
"My first two throws didn't go so well and I threw 67 meters on my second throw, so I thought that might be good enough for me to win the meet," said Ewen. "But in the back of my mind, I was thinking let's give them something to chase and I made it happen on the third throw.
"It feels great. I want to represent ASU as best as I can, because they've done everything for me. So I am really glad that everything was able to happen the way we wanted it to."
Her mark also broke the NCAA Championship meet record set by DeAnna Price -- who owned the previous American collegiate record -- in 2015 of 71.49m (234-6).HAMMER TIME! ???@MagdalynMaeEwen is your 2017 Hammer Throw National Champion! pic.twitter.com/MplfrYeEgf
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) June 8, 2017
The redshirt junior becomes just the second ASU female to win the hammer throw title, joining former Chelsea Cassulo in 2013.
Just over two hours later, Ewen returned to the field for the shot put and earned her second First-Team All-American accolade with a sixth-place finish. Her third throw appeared to hit close, if not passed, the 18-meter line, which would have moved her into 2nd place. Ewen entered the meet with the seventh-best mark this season in the event.When you throw a COLLEGIATE RECORD! @SunDevilTFXC's Maggie Ewen launches the ?? 240-7 (73.32) for a #ncaaTF Record. pic.twitter.com/pqtIrpMvSs
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 8, 2017
She'll return to Historic Hayward Field on Saturday for the women's discus, attempting to capture her third First-Team All-American honor. If she does so, she'll be the first ASU female track & field athlete to earn three in one championship meet since Jasmine Chaney in 2011, and the first thrower since Sarah Stevens in 2009..@SunDevilTFXC's Maggie Ewen is the NCAA record holder and NCAA champion in the Hammer Throw! #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/OgWkMZ6TjH
— #FirstTo500 (@Pac12Network) June 9, 2017
Friday features senior thrower Kyle Long in the men's discus throw at 5:05 p.m. PT. You can watch that event here.