May 31, 2002
BATON ROUGE, La. - Purdue senior Serene Ross needed just one throw to win the NCAA championship in the women's javelin on Thursday, and set an American record in the process.
Ross, who was runner-up in the Big Ten weight throw, threw 195 feet, 8 inches, bettering the U.S. record of 192-3.00 set by Lynda Blutreich on July 1, 2000. Ross topped her previous best by nearly eight feet.
"It was just easy, nice and easy, no pain, nothing," she said. "It apparently was just the way a good throw is supposed to be."
Ross was overwhelmed by the accomplishment.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," Ross said. "I have thought about how great it would be to do it, but I never actually thought I would. I just keep thinking of Blutreich. I've always been in such awe of her."
Ross, the Big Ten champion, entered the meet with the top mark in the country, 188-0.00. She was fourth in last year's NCAA outdoor championships.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Purdue's Donnie Fellows finished 13th in the 10,000m in 30:04.18. Barb Wenger did not qualify for the finals of the 3,000m steeplechase.
Boilermakers Ryan Fitzpatric and Nedzad Mulabegovic will compete on Saturday in the high jump and shot put.