Javelin throwers finish in top six

Kent State’s javelin thrower Kim Hamilton placed sixth in the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at the University of Oregon.

Credit: DKS Editors

Two Kent State women’s javelin throwers, one an alumna and the other just finishing her collegiate track and field career, reached the finals at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

The USA National Championship was the last event of Kim Hamilton’s first and only year as a javelin thrower for Kent State. Her third throw of the day was a career-best 53.96 meters, earning her sixth place. She was competing just a three-hour drive from her hometown of Cave Junction, Ore.

“It’s an outstanding accomplishment (for her),” said Bill Lawson, Kent State’s track and field head coach. “When she’s only thrown the javelin for seven months … that’s attributed to her athleticism, will and determination.”

Hamilton, a center fielder on the softball team for the previous four years, plans to continue to throw the javelin and attempt to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

She wouldn’t be the first Kent State alumna to become an Olympian in the javelin. In fact, Kim Kreiner, a 2000 Kent State graduate representing Team Nike, finished in third place on Saturday with a throw of 58 meters to qualify for the 12th International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Athletics, which will be held August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany. Kreiner has been to the past two Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and Beijing.

“To have both (Hamilton and Kreiner), two young women from Kent State, finish in the top six is remarkable,” Lawson said.

Contact news correspondent Jody Michael at [email protected].