Christina Hillman climbs up USA championship ladder, claims fifth

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Richard Martinez / Iowa State Daily

At the Iowa State Big 12 Track and Field Championships, Christina Hillman, junior in throwing events, prepares for her last throw in the women’s shot put finals. Hillman later took away first place with a throw of 17.18 meters. 

Max Dible

ISU junior shot putter Christina Hillman added yet another line to her ever-growing resume June 25, placing fifth at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.

Hillman was the second highest finisher from the collegiate level in the competition. She was out-thrown by only Kelsey Card of Wisconsin.

Hillman’s top heave of the day came in the third round of the prelims, where she threw a distance of 57 feet, 10.25 inches, qualifying her for the semifinals in third position.

The throw was 3.75 inches shorter than the toss that won Hillman the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship earlier this month in Eugene, Ore., which was her second consecutive NCAA shot putting title.

Hillman qualified for the finals in fifth place with a throw in the high 56-foot range and kept that position until the end with a final throw of 57 feet, 1.5 inches.

The USA outdoor title was claimed by Nike’s Michelle Carter with a throw of 63 feet, 9.75 inches.