Collins captures discus title

Following seventh-place finish at NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, Iowa freshman standout wins junior national title on first throw; Calabasas sophomore Crockrell first day leader in junior heptathlon

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Laulauga-Tausaga Collins became the first to secure her spot on the U.S. Junior National team roster with her performance in the discus throw Thursday.

Ten hours later, Collins not only received her gold medal, but was given a spot on the awards podium next to several of her mentors in the event.

After the Iowa freshman won the junior discus with a first-round throw of 177 feet, 3 inches (54.04m), Collins returned later to compete in the senior discus.

Following the competition, she was recognized for her berth to compete July 21-23 at the Pan Am Junior Champions in Trujillo, Peru, along with members of the U.S. national team -- Gia Lewis-Smallwood, Whitney Ashley and 2014 junior champion Valarie Allman -- who punched their tickets to throw Aug. 4-13 at the IAAF World Championships in London.

“I was pretty confident coming in. I didn’t throw what I wanted to throw, but I am happy I made the [Pan Am Juniors] team. That was the main goal and focus coming in -- make the team and make it to Peru,” said Collins, who placed seventh June 10 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships with a throw of 182-9 (55.71m)

“It is pretty awesome. I was not moving the way I was supposed to in the ring, but I was glad after three or four really bad throws that I came back and hit a really good mark at the end. From start to finish, I think I did pretty well.”

Abraham Lincoln CA graduate Obi Amaechi, a Princeton commit, placed second with a third-round throw of 174-2 (53.10m) to join Collins, who graduated from Mt. Miguel CA, on the U.S. Junior roster.

Calabasas CA sophomore Tierra Crockrell enjoyed a 49-point personal best in her first-day performance in the heptathlon, leading the competition with 3,209 points.

Kansas State freshman Ariel Okorie, improved 79 points from her first-day total May 12 at the Big 12 Conference Championships to position herself in second with 3,182 points. Mississippi State freshman Shayla Broughton is third with 3,179 points.