FAYETTVILLE, Arkansas - Five Sun Devils competed at the NCAA Indoor National Championships at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track on Friday March 12, and the competition was highlighted by redshirt junior Turner Washington claiming the men's indoor shot title. Washington threw 21.36m/70-1 on his fifth attempt to claim ASU's sixth men's indoor shot title. The Sun Devils also celebrated Jorinde van Klinken claiming third in the women's shot (17.56m 57-7½).
"This feels tremendous. I was really afraid of having the national record then coming up short when it actually mattered, so to be able to have both heading into outdoors means everything. My confidence is through the roof and I know if I keep doing it I'll hit an even bigger throw."
In his post-meet NCAA Zoom interview, Washington shared his disbelief in how far he's come since transferring to ASU, saying: "If you told me four years ago I'd be a national champion in the shot, I'd tell you you're crazy."
Washington dominated the event from the start. He went 20.70m on his first throw and after just two attempts he had a commanding three-foot lead. Washington brought home the national title with a throw of 21.36m. He came close to reaching the meet record which was set by fellow Sun Devil Ryan Whiting in 2008 21.73m (71-3½ ).
"Anytime you have someone win a championship it's amazing. It never gets old, that's for sure," throws coach Brian Blutreich said. "This is a big meet for him because Turner may the only person who has the NCAA record in an event where they've never previously competed at an NCAA meet for that event. He did a fabulous job from a mental standpoint because that's something I can train him on, but then he has to figure it out at the meet. I think this really sets him up well for outdoors and his future."
Jorinde van Klinken had a great performance in the women's shot put as well. She brought home the bronze in her first NCAA meet by going 17.56m/57-7.5. The first-year Sun Devil finished two feet behind Ohio State's Adelaide Aquilla and one foot being Arizona's Samantha Noennig.
"I've very proud of her for getting third place in her first NCAA meet," Blutreich said. "It's motivation for her, she knows the door was left open. She's got way bigger and better things ahead of her but for her first time at a national meet it was fabulous."
"What a difference a year makes," head coach Dion Miller said. "We get here last year and were loaded and ready to compete before the season was cut short, so I'm just so happy for Turner to be the collegiate record holder after never before competing at a national meet.
"I'm also so happy for our team and for what's to come," Miller added. "On the women's side, Jorinde did a tremendous job. I told her that she's risen up to become a tremendous leader on our team. I'm so proud of both Turner and Jorinde and so proud to be the head coach at Arizona State. We want to get back to the national conversation as a team and it starts by making a statement like that."
The sprinter duo of Kentre Patterson and Jamar Marshall Jr. competed hard in the men's 60m hurdles against the nation's best. Patterson placed fourth in his heat with a time of 7.81 that would eventually put him 12th overall. Marshall Jr. had a slip up on the first hurdle and was not able to finish the race.
"I told the guys to keep their head up," Miller said. "Obviously it didn't end up the way we wanted it to end up for the hurdlers but man I'm so proud of everybody."
The day concluded with Hayley Rayburn in the women's pole vault competition. Rayburn opened with a clean clear at 4.16m, but an awkward landing on her next jump cut her day short and concluded ASU's time in Fayetteville.
Four Sun Devils also celebrated earning USTFCCA All-American status as a result of finishing in the top-16 in their event. Washington and van Klinken both earned first-team status, while Patterson and Rayburn earned second-team honors.
Keep up with the Sun Devils TFXC program on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
LINKS
--azcentral.com: ASU's Turner Washington wins NCAA Indoor shot put title (azcentral.com)
--ASU State Press: ASU athlete captures NCAA title at Indoor Track and Field Championships
???????????????? ????????????????!!
— Sun Devil TFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 12, 2021
Turner Washington goes 21.36m/70-1 on his fifth attempt to take NCAA gold!?? pic.twitter.com/ZCt4uuV3UR
"This feels tremendous. I was really afraid of having the national record then coming up short when it actually mattered, so to be able to have both heading into outdoors means everything. My confidence is through the roof and I know if I keep doing it I'll hit an even bigger throw."
In his post-meet NCAA Zoom interview, Washington shared his disbelief in how far he's come since transferring to ASU, saying: "If you told me four years ago I'd be a national champion in the shot, I'd tell you you're crazy."
Washington dominated the event from the start. He went 20.70m on his first throw and after just two attempts he had a commanding three-foot lead. Washington brought home the national title with a throw of 21.36m. He came close to reaching the meet record which was set by fellow Sun Devil Ryan Whiting in 2008 21.73m (71-3½ ).
"Anytime you have someone win a championship it's amazing. It never gets old, that's for sure," throws coach Brian Blutreich said. "This is a big meet for him because Turner may the only person who has the NCAA record in an event where they've never previously competed at an NCAA meet for that event. He did a fabulous job from a mental standpoint because that's something I can train him on, but then he has to figure it out at the meet. I think this really sets him up well for outdoors and his future."
Here is the remarkable series that Turner Washington of @SunDevilTFXC had today...
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) March 12, 2021
R1 - 20.70m (67-11)
R2 - 20.98m (68-10)
R3 - Foul
R4 - 20.45m (67-1¼)
R5 - 21.36m (70-1)
R6 - 21.33m (69-11¾)
"If you told me 4 years ago I'd be a national champion in the shot I'd tell you you're crazy."
— Sun Devil TFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 12, 2021
??
ESPN3: https://t.co/3Csd93mM0K pic.twitter.com/ECa68Ed7ms
Jorinde van Klinken had a great performance in the women's shot put as well. She brought home the bronze in her first NCAA meet by going 17.56m/57-7.5. The first-year Sun Devil finished two feet behind Ohio State's Adelaide Aquilla and one foot being Arizona's Samantha Noennig.
"I've very proud of her for getting third place in her first NCAA meet," Blutreich said. "It's motivation for her, she knows the door was left open. She's got way bigger and better things ahead of her but for her first time at a national meet it was fabulous."
"What a difference a year makes," head coach Dion Miller said. "We get here last year and were loaded and ready to compete before the season was cut short, so I'm just so happy for Turner to be the collegiate record holder after never before competing at a national meet.
"I'm also so happy for our team and for what's to come," Miller added. "On the women's side, Jorinde did a tremendous job. I told her that she's risen up to become a tremendous leader on our team. I'm so proud of both Turner and Jorinde and so proud to be the head coach at Arizona State. We want to get back to the national conversation as a team and it starts by making a statement like that."
The sprinter duo of Kentre Patterson and Jamar Marshall Jr. competed hard in the men's 60m hurdles against the nation's best. Patterson placed fourth in his heat with a time of 7.81 that would eventually put him 12th overall. Marshall Jr. had a slip up on the first hurdle and was not able to finish the race.
"I told the guys to keep their head up," Miller said. "Obviously it didn't end up the way we wanted it to end up for the hurdlers but man I'm so proud of everybody."
The day concluded with Hayley Rayburn in the women's pole vault competition. Rayburn opened with a clean clear at 4.16m, but an awkward landing on her next jump cut her day short and concluded ASU's time in Fayetteville.
All smiles after the first vault ???? pic.twitter.com/OVjwdC9aFb
— Sun Devil TFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 13, 2021
Four Sun Devils also celebrated earning USTFCCA All-American status as a result of finishing in the top-16 in their event. Washington and van Klinken both earned first-team status, while Patterson and Rayburn earned second-team honors.
NCAA record holder ?
— Sun Devil TFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 15, 2021
NCAA indoor champ ?
First-team All-American ?
Never even an ounce of doubt ?? pic.twitter.com/5MgZ9sCY1X
She's only been a Sun Devil for a few months and she's already challenging the best in the country.
— Sun Devil TFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 15, 2021
Congratulations Jorinde on earning first-team All-America honors ?? pic.twitter.com/pLoLrDWsUt
Keep up with the Sun Devils TFXC program on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
LINKS
--azcentral.com: ASU's Turner Washington wins NCAA Indoor shot put title (azcentral.com)
--ASU State Press: ASU athlete captures NCAA title at Indoor Track and Field Championships