TEMPE – Beatrice Llano put the NCAA on notice in her Sun Devil debut as she dominated the women's hammer throw contest and recorded one of the farthest marks in collegiate history, Friday at the first day of the ASU Invitational in Tempe.
Llano took the lead with her first throw of the afternoon, launching the hammer more than 220 feet. The redshirt-sophomore from Norway wasn't done, though, and with her fifth throw of the contest – and the fifth throw of her ASU career – Llano threw the 8.8 pound hammer 71.43m/234-4 feet to thrust herself into the top-10 in collegiate history in the event.
"She did great," ASU throws coach Brian Blutreich said. "Her training has been pretty good over the last few months, but she's still learning a lot about the event. I think that's what makes it exciting."
The mark leads the NCAA and broke the eight-year-old Norwegian record by more than three feet. While the feat has her at the top of the NCAA, it also has her near the top of the world this year as well at No. 7, and qualifies her for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, this fall.
"It wasn't her perfect throw, so we know there's more to come," Blutreich said. "She's always been a great competitor, so I've never had to work with her on that, but she's starting to understand things better and I think we're on the right track."
Llano is one of two Sun Devils on the NCAA's all-time top-10 list in the hammer throw (No. 7), joining collegiate record-holder Maggie Ewen, who set the all-time NCAA mark of 74.53m/244-6 last season.
Later in the afternoon, NCAA shot put champion Samantha Noennig won the women's discus throw, and Kaylee Antill grabbed fifth in the event after finishing third in the hammer throw to open the day.
"The women's group is pretty good right now and once we get Seri Geisler back into the mix in the jav, it'll be pretty strong in all of the events," Blutreich said. "We've got Sam trying to become a two-time champion, but we all start at zero outdoors and we've got to build our way back up."
Ian Schulz won the men's version of the discus with a personal best throw of 54.68m/179-4 feet, and Greg Fernandez took sixth.
The ASU Invitational will resume Saturday at 3 p.m. as the men's pole vault kicks off the contest. The first event on the track is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. and the meet will conclude with the 4x400-meter relays at 8:20 p.m.
ASU Invitational | March 22, 2019 | Sun Angel Stadium
Women's Results
Hammer Throw
1. Beatrice Llano – 71.43m/234-4
3. Kaylee Antill – 60.64m/198-11
Discus Throw
1. Samantha Noennig – 52.31m/171-7
5. Kaylee Antill – 47.83m/156-11
Men's Results
Discus Throw
1. Ian Schulz – 54.68m/179-4
6. Gregory Fernandez – 25.59m/83-11
Llano took the lead with her first throw of the afternoon, launching the hammer more than 220 feet. The redshirt-sophomore from Norway wasn't done, though, and with her fifth throw of the contest – and the fifth throw of her ASU career – Llano threw the 8.8 pound hammer 71.43m/234-4 feet to thrust herself into the top-10 in collegiate history in the event.
"She did great," ASU throws coach Brian Blutreich said. "Her training has been pretty good over the last few months, but she's still learning a lot about the event. I think that's what makes it exciting."
The mark leads the NCAA and broke the eight-year-old Norwegian record by more than three feet. While the feat has her at the top of the NCAA, it also has her near the top of the world this year as well at No. 7, and qualifies her for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, this fall.
"It wasn't her perfect throw, so we know there's more to come," Blutreich said. "She's always been a great competitor, so I've never had to work with her on that, but she's starting to understand things better and I think we're on the right track."
Llano is one of two Sun Devils on the NCAA's all-time top-10 list in the hammer throw (No. 7), joining collegiate record-holder Maggie Ewen, who set the all-time NCAA mark of 74.53m/244-6 last season.
Later in the afternoon, NCAA shot put champion Samantha Noennig won the women's discus throw, and Kaylee Antill grabbed fifth in the event after finishing third in the hammer throw to open the day.
"The women's group is pretty good right now and once we get Seri Geisler back into the mix in the jav, it'll be pretty strong in all of the events," Blutreich said. "We've got Sam trying to become a two-time champion, but we all start at zero outdoors and we've got to build our way back up."
Ian Schulz won the men's version of the discus with a personal best throw of 54.68m/179-4 feet, and Greg Fernandez took sixth.
The ASU Invitational will resume Saturday at 3 p.m. as the men's pole vault kicks off the contest. The first event on the track is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. and the meet will conclude with the 4x400-meter relays at 8:20 p.m.
ASU Invitational | March 22, 2019 | Sun Angel Stadium
Women's Results
Hammer Throw
1. Beatrice Llano – 71.43m/234-4
3. Kaylee Antill – 60.64m/198-11
Discus Throw
1. Samantha Noennig – 52.31m/171-7
5. Kaylee Antill – 47.83m/156-11
Men's Results
Discus Throw
1. Ian Schulz – 54.68m/179-4
6. Gregory Fernandez – 25.59m/83-11