After taking second place last year, senior Eric Jones (St. Lawrence) won this year's NCAA Division III weight throw title on Friday. Jones threw 19 meters for the first time last weekend, but did it once again in the second round to beat out some close compeition. After the competition, Jones told Flotrack that "Being the runner up last year, I knew I had a big target on my back coming into this year. I wanted to use some of the experience that I've had being at nationals ... I'm glad I was able to accomplish my goals and become national champmion with that target on my back." You can watch a video of the throw here.  Sean Larson (Wisconsin-Stout) had a very consistent February and continued that into March with a strong runner-up performance of 18.89m. His last four meets have all been within a foot of each other, and that was enough for him to take second. Tony Baker (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) was in just fifth place entering the finals, but improved in the fifth round to move into third place. The competition was very close and little more than a foot seperated second and fifth place. Favorite Ben Ludtke placed a disappointing tenth and failed ot make the finals.

Junior Holly Ozanich (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) dominated the women's competition. All six of her attempts surpassed her old best. She entered the meet a PR of 18.05m, just the fourth best mark in the nation this year, and was the runner-up last year. Her new best, 19.64m, added more than five feet to her best and outdistanced the competition by four feet. You can watch a video fo the throw here.  Vantiel Elizabeth Duncan (Bates) also threw a personal best for second as did Kristin Constantine (Chicago) for third. Claire Ray (Chicago), the only athlete to break 19 meters before this weekend, continued her recent struggles and placed fourth. Rochaunda Harris (Greenville) surprised many with a big PR last week, but unfortunately fouled out this weekend. Click here to view a short post-competition interview with winner Holly Ozanich.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater coach Dave Hahn also has more commentary on the meet on Coachthethrows.com.

Men's Weight Throw
    1 Eric Jones, Sr, St. Lawrence                   62-9 1/4 (19.13m) 
                               (F, 19.13, F, F, 17.34, 18.87)
    2 Sean Larson, Sr, Wisconsin Stout              61-11 3/4 (18.89m) 
                           (17.10, 18.89, 18.03, F, F, 18.76)
    3 Tony Baker, Jr, Wisconsin Oshkosh                  61-5 (18.72m) 
                           (F, 17.80, 18.46, F, 18.72, 18.69)
    4 Andrew Brueggen, Jr, St. Mary's (Minn)         61-4 1/4 (18.70m) 
                                   (F, 18.70, 17.85, F, F, F)
    5 Derall King, Jr, Hamline University               60-10 (18.54m) 
                           (18.54, 17.62, 17.16, 18.52, F, F)
    6 Bryan Kolacz, Jr, Keene State College              60-6 (18.44m) 
                       (18.18, 17.18, 17.94, 18.30, F, 18.44)
    7 Kevin Phipps, Jr, Baldwin-Wallace              60-1 3/4 (18.33m) 
                       (16.64, F, 18.28, 18.33, 17.82, 18.18)
    8 Josh Brennan, Jr, Carthage College             59-9 3/4 (18.23m) 
                       (18.23, 17.37, 18.09, 17.71, 17.87, F)
    9 Tom Sroka, Sr, Aurora University               59-8 1/2 (18.20m) 
                           (F, 18.20, 17.90, F, 17.90, 17.38)
   10 Ben Ludtke, So, Wisconsin Oshkosh              58-5 3/4 (17.82m)
   11 Rich McNeil, Sr, Bates College                 57-7 1/2 (17.56m)  
   12 Tony Sigrist, So, Wisconsin Eau Claire         57-5 3/4 (17.52m) 
   13 Robert Kapustka, So, North Central College     56-4 1/2 (17.18m) 
   14 Ross Bunchek, So, Carthage College             52-1 3/4 (15.89m)
   
Women's Weight Throw
    1 Holly Ozanich, Jr, Wisconsin Oshkosh           64-5 1/4 (19.64m) 
                   (19.08, 18.76, 19.01, 18.65, 18.84, 19.64)
                                           DIII season's best
                                   Hollensteiner Track record
Was 63-0 1/4 (19.21m); Kelsey Hanley, Indiana State, 2/6/2010
    2 Vantiel Elizabeth Dunca, Sr, Bates College     60-0 1/2 (18.30m) 
                   (17.68, 15.33, 17.37, 16.87, 17.20, 18.30)
    3 Kristin Constantine, Jr, University of Chicago    59-11 (18.26m) 
                   (17.21, 18.26, 18.11, 16.07, 17.56, 16.53)
    4 Claire Ray, Sr, University of Chicago          59-8 1/2 (18.20m) 
                       (F, 18.08, 17.78, 17.82, 18.04, 18.20)
    5 Alyssa Pirinelli, Sr, St. Lawrence            57-10 1/4 (17.63m) 
                   (17.18, 17.63, 16.64, 16.93, 16.74, 15.95)
    6 Ellie Sitek, Sr, Wisconsin Oshkosh             57-4 3/4 (17.49m) 
                       (16.80, 16.84, 17.49, 17.41, 17.07, F)
    7 Ahvia Greene, Jr, Carthage College            55-11 1/4 (17.05m) 
                           (16.10, 16.68, 17.05, F, 16.94, F)
    8 Susie Trzebiatowski, Sr, Wisconsin Oshkosh     55-9 3/4 (17.01m) 
                               (17.01, 16.77, 16.60, F, F, F)
    9 Nicole Murphy, Sr, University of Chicago       55-6 1/2 (16.93m) 
                       (15.60, F, 16.93, 14.58, 14.34, 15.89)
   10 Mindy Harrington, Jr, Carthage College         55-2 1/4 (16.82m) 
   11 Jessa Luebke, Jr, Wisconsin Whitewater         54-1 1/4 (16.49m) 
   12 Amanda Brichacek, Jr, Nebraska Wesleyan           52-11 (16.13m) 
   13 Christy Bohl, Sr, Wisconsin La Crosse          51-8 1/4 (15.75m) 
   14 Fatima Rose, So, Springfield College               50-2 (15.29m)
   15 Brittany Frederick, So, Wisconsin Eau Claire   50-1 3/4 (15.28m)  
   16 Emily Niehaus, So, Centre College              50-0 3/4 (15.26m)
      Rochaunda Harris, Jr, Greenville College             ND

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