June 9, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Ca. - Purdue University senior Lindsey Blaine capped off the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a national championship as she won the women's javelin title on Saturday morning. Her win moved the Purdue women into a tie for 21st place in the team standings with 10 points, their highest finish since 2002.
Blaine's first throw of the day registered 55.70 meters (182-09), setting a new career-best and jumping straight to the top of the competition leaderboard. "When I let it go I knew it was a good throw and I was thinking it would be around 53 meters," said Blaine. "I had no idea it was going to be a 55 meter throw and win a national championship."
However, her mark wouldn't be touched throughout the final 52 throws of the day and she held on for the national title.
"It's just surreal," said Blaine shortly after receiving her first-place prize. "It's just starting to sink in what's happened and it feels amazing. To have come here four times and capped it all off with this is more than I could've imagined."
"I really had trouble getting out of the first day for the last three years," Blaine continued. "Having gotten past that and then come to this is a dream come true."
"We're really proud of Lindsey," said Head Coach Jack Warner. "She's worked very hard for this all season and to see all her hard work pay off is great. She'd been here three times before and was disappointed, but this time she was able to go out and give a great performance. We couldn't be happier for Lindsey."
Blaine becomes the first woman to score at the national championships for the Boilermakers since 2002, when Serene Ross captured the javelin title.