2015 NCAA Men's Weight Throw Preview
2015 NCAA Men's Weight Throw Preview
Michael Lihrman, Wisconsin (PB 24.27m)
Last Year: 1st Indoors, 3rd Outdoors
Lihrman had a flawless 2014 season, recording the best throw in the NCAA, and sweeping conference and national titles. His personal best toss is over 2 feet better than the next returner, making him our number one pick for his final season.
Nick Miller, Oklahoma State (PB 23.07m)
Last Year: 2nd Indoors, 2nd Outdoors
Miller’s throws may not be as powerful as the other competitors, but he’s got the resume to back up his talent. After finishing second to Lihrman indoors and second to Matthias Tayala in the hammer throw, Miller took his talents to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he won the silver medal in the hammer. His personal best is the new British record.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Purdue (PB 23.62m)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, 11th Outdoors
Last Year: 1st Indoors, 3rd Outdoors
Lihrman had a flawless 2014 season, recording the best throw in the NCAA, and sweeping conference and national titles. His personal best toss is over 2 feet better than the next returner, making him our number one pick for his final season.
Nick Miller, Oklahoma State (PB 23.07m)
Last Year: 2nd Indoors, 2nd Outdoors
Miller’s throws may not be as powerful as the other competitors, but he’s got the resume to back up his talent. After finishing second to Lihrman indoors and second to Matthias Tayala in the hammer throw, Miller took his talents to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he won the silver medal in the hammer. His personal best is the new British record.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Purdue (PB 23.62m)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, 11th Outdoors
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi is already off to a great start for 2015. At the Hoosier Open, he won the weight throw with a toss of 23.01m. He does it all. He was the Big Ten outdoor champion in the hammer throw and runner-up in the shot put in 2014. Where some throwers have a “specialty” event, Enekwechi spreads his talents among the throws, and his versatility makes him dangerous for 2015.
Matthias Tayala, Kent State (PB 22.10m)
Last Year: 5th Indoors, 1st Outdoors
The NCAA outdoor champion in the hammer throw will be back to improve his indoor placement. Tayala had a busy summer. After winning the national title, he placed fifth at USATF Outdoors, and won the silver medal at the NACAC U-23 Games. Though his results indicate his hammer skills are better than his weight throw talents, he recorded the fifth-best throw of the regular season in 2014, and stayed true to that position at NCAA indoors.
Antonio James, Michigan State (PB 22.74m)
Last Year: 4th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
James was the 2014 Big Ten Shot Put Champion for the indoor and outdoor season, but he shined on the national level in the weight throw. He was the 2013 NCAA Indoor runner-up in the WT, and his personal best is inching closer and closer to the likes of Enekwechi and Miller. He will be a force in 2015.
Last Year: 5th Indoors, 1st Outdoors
The NCAA outdoor champion in the hammer throw will be back to improve his indoor placement. Tayala had a busy summer. After winning the national title, he placed fifth at USATF Outdoors, and won the silver medal at the NACAC U-23 Games. Though his results indicate his hammer skills are better than his weight throw talents, he recorded the fifth-best throw of the regular season in 2014, and stayed true to that position at NCAA indoors.
Antonio James, Michigan State (PB 22.74m)
Last Year: 4th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
James was the 2014 Big Ten Shot Put Champion for the indoor and outdoor season, but he shined on the national level in the weight throw. He was the 2013 NCAA Indoor runner-up in the WT, and his personal best is inching closer and closer to the likes of Enekwechi and Miller. He will be a force in 2015.
Jordan Young, Virginia (PB 21.81m)
Last Year: NM Indoors, 14th Outdoors
Young comes to Virginia after a solid freshman campaign at the University of Arizona. As a Wildcat, Young set a new school record and qualified for the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. He was a major contributor, placing in three events at the Pac-12 meet: third in the hammer, third in the shot and eighth in discus. With a new coach and squad, Young will need to get comfortable on the national level to back up his in-season throws.
Last Year: NM Indoors, 14th Outdoors
Young comes to Virginia after a solid freshman campaign at the University of Arizona. As a Wildcat, Young set a new school record and qualified for the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. He was a major contributor, placing in three events at the Pac-12 meet: third in the hammer, third in the shot and eighth in discus. With a new coach and squad, Young will need to get comfortable on the national level to back up his in-season throws.