What was expected to be a close competition turned out to be just that on Thursday as Nikola Lomnicka (Georgia) took home her first NCAA title. It was far from easy for Lomnicka. In the sixth and final round, season leader Dorotea Habazin (Virginia Tech) came improved to 64.05m to come within five inches of Lomnicka. Close enough for a scare, but not enugh for the win. On her final attempt, after having the title secure, Lomnicka was able to relax and throw improve her winning mark to 65.57m.

The rest of field was stuck in a close battle for third. Entering finals, Valerie Wert (Akron) sat in third place with a best of 60.40m. That was soon surpassed by West region champion Jeneva McCall (Southern Illinois) in the fourth round and then Jere' Summers (Louisville) in the fifth round. Summers held on for third place and Gwen Berry (Southern Illinois) ended up improving on her last attempt to move into fourth. Including McCall and Berry, four Southern Illinois hammer throwers placed in the top eight and earned All-American honors.

Among the surprises were Alena Krechyk (Kansas), who did not start the competition for unknown reasons. Indoor champions D'Ana McCarty also placed just 10th.

On Friday, the men wil compete and Lomnicka's brother, Virginia Tech thrower Marcel Lomnicky, will look to defend his title and make the siblings the first pair to sweep the hammer throw in NCAA history. If he is succseful, they may also be the first siblings to sweep any event in NCAA history.

                      NCAA Division I 2010 Outdoor                 
                       Track & Field Championships                   
                   Eugene, Or  - 6/9/2010 to 6/12/2010              
                   
Women Hammer Throw
==========================================================================
 Two flights. Random draw                                         
 30 minute flight specific warm-up. 20 minutes before finals              
 Advance best 9 after tie breaking to finals. Reverse order               
    Name                    Year School                  Finals           
==========================================================================                                                        
  1 Nikola Lomnicka           SO Georgia                 65.57m     215-01
      64.19m  FOUL  FOUL  64.04m  61.49m  65.57m                          
  2 Dorotea Habazin           JR Virginia Tech           64.05m     210-02
      63.23m  63.18m  62.86m  FOUL  61.14m  64.05m                        
  3 Jere' Summers             SR Louisville              62.54m     205-02
      60.10m  FOUL  58.87m  FOUL  62.54m  FOUL                            
  4 Gwen Berry                JR Southern Illinois       61.31m     201-02
      59.44m  FOUL  FOUL  57.28m  60.25m  61.31m                          
  5 Jeneva McCall             SO Southern Illinois       60.80m     199-06
      59.48m  58.15m  59.47m  60.80m  59.73m  60.63m                      
  6 Valerie Wert              JR Akron                   60.40m     198-02
      60.40m  54.59m  60.14m  59.84m  57.12m  FOUL                        
  7 Olga Ciura                JR Southern Illinois       59.88m     196-05
      58.78m  58.45m  59.88m  FOUL  FOUL  59.24m                          
  8 Sasha Leeth               SR Southern Illinois       59.14m     194-00
      FOUL  59.14m  58.54m  57.90m  FOUL  FOUL                            
  9 Jaynie Goodbody           SR Stanford                58.61m     192-03
      56.86m  58.61m  53.24m  56.15m  55.28m  56.89m                      
 10 D'Ana McCarty             JR Louisville              58.35m     191-05
      58.35m  55.63m  57.88m                                              
 11 Lindsey Cook              SR Louisville              57.43m     188-05
      57.26m  57.43m  56.41m                                              
 12 Kristi Koplin             SR Southern Utah           56.82m     186-05
      FOUL  56.82m  56.52m                                                
 13 Gabby Midles              SO Idaho                   56.42m     185-01
      53.43m  FOUL  56.42m                                                
 14 Marissa Minderler         SO Southern California     55.86m     183-03
      FOUL  55.86m  54.99m                                                
 15 Ashlee Lathrop            SR New Hampshire           55.84m     183-02
      55.84m  51.07m  FOUL                                                
 16 Ozioma Okolie             SR Texas Tech              55.10m     180-09
      54.28m  FOUL  55.10m                                                
 17 Kim Williams              SR LSU                     55.07m     180-08
      FOUL  53.21m  55.07m                                                
 18 Brynn Smith               JR Brown                   55.06m     180-08
      55.06m  FOUL  53.26m                                                
 19 Mallory Barnes            JR Dayton                  54.86m     180-00
      52.25m  54.86m  53.11m                                              
 20 Jade Hodson               SO Nebraska                54.29m     178-01
      FOUL  FOUL  54.29m                                                  
 21 Terran Alexander          JR Texas-El Paso           53.96m     177-00
      FOUL  FOUL  53.96m                                                  
 22 Suesanna Williams         SR S. Mississippi          52.91m     173-07
      52.70m  47.72m  52.91m                                              
 -- Beth Rohl                 FR Michigan State            FOUL           
      FOUL  FOUL  FOUL                                                    
 -- Alena Krechyk             SO Kansas                     DNS 

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