Princeton University
NCAA Regionals
Players Mentioned
Ratcliffe Returns to NCAA Championships as NCAA Regionals Conclude
May 31, 2015 | Women's Track and Field
Results l Day 1 Recap l Day 2 Recap
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (5/29/15) - It was a highly anticipated event, the women's hammer throw. It pitted the 2014 national champion Julia Ratcliffe of Princeton, who is second in the nation, against the NCAA leader Brooke Pleger of Bowling Green. Day 3 of the NCAA East Regional couldn't have gotten started under tenser circumstances.Pleger was third last spring at the NCAA Championships, throwing nearly eight feet short of Ratcliffe's winning throw of 66.88 (219-5).
This season? Ratcliffe has been building towards the NCAA Championship, steadily improving on her season bests nearly every week. She has a season best of 68.53 (224-10) coming at ECACs two weeks ago. Pleger leads however with a season best and a PR of 69.72 (228-9) set at her conference championship that same week in May. Ratcliffe's PR came last year - the New Zealand, Ivy League and Princeton record of 70.28 (230-7).
Both wouldn't surpass their PRs or season bests this weekend - maybe holding some back from each other before the face each for medals next week. Pleger won the East Regional with a throw of 67.73 (222-2) on her first throw, while fouling on her next two attempts. Ratcliffe threw 64 meters on her first two attempts before her best throw came on her third, 66.46 (218).
These two will meet again in Eugene, on June 11 at 1:30 p.m., for the national title.
Junior Kathryn Fluehr was 46th overall at 17:13.86. She was in the top 15 at the 3k mark but started to fall back and by 4200 meters she was in 22nd place where she would finish in the heat.
Another Tiger looking to make her way to Eugene is Abby Levene'14, racing in the 5k for Colorado as a grad student. The event is slated to begin at 10:05 p.m. ET.
As Regionals wraps up, Princeton will send four to the NCAA Championships: Cecilia Barowski in the 800, Lizzie Bird in the steeplechase, Megan Curham in the 10k and Julia Ratcliffe in the hammer throw.