Entries for the NCAA Division III Championships have been announced. Both hammer throw competitions will take place Thursday afternoon at Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio

Men - While defending champion Bryan Kolacz has returned, he finds himself as an underdog this year. Kolacz threw a personal best of 61.48m to win last year, but will likely need more than that this year. Transfer Eric Flores (California Lutheran) he will be the man to beat. So far this year he has thrown over 64 meters in seven meets, broken the Division II All-time best. His worst meet (61.81m) was still better than the season best of number two seed Sean Larson (Wisconsin-Stout). It seems that his biggest challenge may be the NCAA Championship record of 65.66m set by Jeremy Wendt (Wisconsin-Whitewater) in 2004. Larson, the runner up indoors, has a season best of 61.34m and is closely followed by junior Tarlor Berilant (Claremont Mudd Scripps) at 61.01m. Kolacz actually enters the meet as the seventh seed, but his personal best from last year ranks him second among the field.

Women - On the women's side, defending champion Ellie Sitek (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) enters the meet as the top seed. Her winning mark last year was 53.61m, but she will need more than that this year. Eight throwers have surpassed that distance this year, led by Sitek's teammate Holly Ozanich (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) at 58.30m. Sitek sits just behind her at 58.28m with Christina Youngern (California Lutheran) and Susie Trzebiatowski (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) both over 57 meters. Trezbiatowski may indeed be the best of the Oshkosh crew, having beat both Sitek and Ozanich at the conference championship earlier this month just one week after they all threw their personal bests. While Youngern has yet to face many D3 competitors, she has thrown well out west and has consistently been over 54 and 55 meters this year.

HAMMER THROW - Men                                                 Thursday 5:00 pm
                                                         Top 9 advance to finals
Last year's winner: 201-8 (61.48m); Bryan Kolacz, So, Keene State College
NCAA Championships record: 215-5 (65.66m); Jeremy Wendt, Wisconsin Whitewater, 2004
Stadium record: 200-3 (61.04m); Pat Ahern, St. Thomas, 1993
All-time DIII best: 220-10 (67.31m); Eric Flores, Cal Lutheran, 2010
                                                         Qual
      Name                         Team                Distance
Flight 1
    1 Darin Decker, Sr        Augustana (Illinois)       56.34
    2 Rich McNeil, Sr         Bates College              57.12
    3 Andrew Brueggen, Jr     St. Mary's (Minn)          56.66
    4 Tony Baker, Jr          Wisconsin Oshkosh          57.01
    5 Kevin Phipps, Jr        Baldwin-Wallace            59.38
    6 Ben Ludtke, So          Wisconsin Oshkosh          57.87
    7 Eric Flores, Jr         California Lutheran        67.31
    8 Sean Larson, Sr         Wisconsin Stout            61.34
Flight 2
    1 Taylor Berliant, Jr     ClaremontMuddScripps       61.01
    2 Tom Friederick, Sr      Wisconsin Platteville      57.34
    3 Josh Brennan, Jr        Carthage College           58.41
    4 Jerry Prusinski, Jr     Wisconsin Stevens Pt       58.05
    5 Shaun Davis, Sr         Wisconsin Whitewater       56.03
    6 Erik Whiting, Sr        Rensselaer Poly Inst       56.20
    7 Ross Bunchek, So        Carthage College           57.07
    8 Bryan Kolacz, Jr        Keene State College        57.98
    9 Aaron Wilkerson, Sr     Hamline University         56.43

HAMMER THROW - Women                                                 Thursday 1:00 pm
                                                         Top 9 advance to finals
Last year's winner: 175-10 (53.61m); Ellie Sitek, Jr, Wisconsin Oshkosh
NCAA Championships record: 206-5 (62.92m); Keelin Godsey, Sr, Bates College
Stadium record: 173-1 (52.76m); Beth Swope, Geneseo SUNY, 1999
All-time DIII best: 206-5 (62.92m); Keelin Godsey, Sr, Bates College
                                                         Qual
      Name                         Team                Distance
Flight 1
    1 Brittany Frederick, So  Wisconsin Eau Claire       51.76
    2 Jessa Luebke, Jr        Wisconsin Whitewater       54.10
    3 Susie Trzebiatowski, Sr Wisconsin Oshkosh          57.27
    4 Claire Ray, Sr          University of Chicago      51.74
    5 Emily Niehaus, So       Centre College             52.66
    6 Amanda Brichacek, Jr    Nebraska Wesleyan          54.74
    7 Yaneve Fonge, Jr        Univ of Rochester          52.88
    8 Rochaunda Harris, Jr    Greenville College         51.75
    9 Samantha Loew, Fr       Wisconsin Oshkosh          52.06
Flight 2
    1 Erica Cox, Jr           Whitworth University       50.56
    2 Stephanie Powell, Sr    Brockport S U N Y          50.70
    3 Vantiel Elizabeth Dunca, Sr Bates College          54.10
    4 Ellie Sitek, Sr         Wisconsin Oshkosh          58.28
    5 Holly Ozanich, Jr       Wisconsin Oshkosh          58.30
    6 Alyssa Pirinelli, Sr    St. Lawrence               54.88
    7 Alexia Child, So        Wisconsin Oshkosh          50.06
    8 Sharon Rymut, Sr        Ohio Wesleyan              51.19
    9 Christa Youngern, Sr    California Lutheran        57.57

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