African Championships Silver medallist Nwanneka Okwelogu was in fine form for her school, dominating the field to win the College Women’s Shot Put Championship on Thursday, April 28 at the ongoing Penn Relays.
The Harvard Junior was the only athlete to have recorded a throw beyond 17m, winning the competition with a distance of 17.16m, while Tennessee’s Cassie Wertman and Penn State’s Alyssa Robinson followed with 16.91m and 15.99m respectively.
The 20-year old first recorded a throw of 16.11m, before securing her winning distance of 17.16m at her second attempt. Her third attempt saw her make a throw of 16.87m, while she was fouled on her fourth throw.
While speaking with The Inquirer,Okwelogu revealed her initial disappointment at having to compete in the morning. She said:
“I was a little disappointed at how early it was because it kind of takes me a while. I think it takes everyone a while to warm up. But I tried to bring what I had. I knew it was going to be a really good competition. I was expecting to have to throw far in order to win.”
Okwelogu has a Personal Best (outdoor) of 17.32m set last year, but recorded an indoor PB of 17.66m last month. Her first outing for Nigeria was at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, before proceeding to Marrakech for the African Championships where she took Silver behind compatriot Chinwe Okoro.
