NCAA Women’s Shot — Johansson Untouchable

TOTAL DOMINATION. That’s a succinct description of Axelina Johansson’s performance in the shot. Nebraska’s Swedish soph produced the 6 longest marks of the evening, all beyond 62-feet (18.90). She finished up with a winning final throw of 63-3¼ (19.28), third-best-ever at this meet, and almost a meter farther than anyone else could manage.

For each attempt, she would enter the ring, perform a short dance at the back, fling her braids over her left shoulder, spin very quickly and launch — usually expressionless and only twice requesting spectator participation. Despite a taped right ankle, the 23-year-old favorite didn’t really require any assistance.

“I think it’s the best series of my life,” said the former multi-eventer. “I was very consistent, almost everything was 19m. It felt awesome. I think I had a great throw in me. I didn’t really get it today, but it will come. I have a long summer.”

Johansson’s expected duel with Jorinde van Klinken, Oregon’s discus CR holder from the Netherlands, never transpired. The Duck, 1st indoors and 2nd outdoors last year, held a 2–1 edge in their meetings this season, but Johansson, the indoor runner-up, owned a much better outdoor mark. Van Klinken seemed unable to find her rhythm, and stood only 4th until her final attempt, when she reached 60-7¾ (18.48) to finish 2nd.

The others in a quality field of entrants — the meet’s deepest ever — performed admirably, recording the best-ever mark-for-places in 3–14 (at least) in NCAA history.

UNLV junior Rosa Santana held 2nd during much of the event with a near-PR 60-3¼ (18.37), which eventually sufficed for 3rd, same as her indoor finish. Another Dutch athlete, Florida frosh Alida van Daalen, produced an outdoor PR 59-8½ (18.20) in the third round, and was denied a higher podium place only by her countrywoman’s final effort.

WOMEN’S SHOT RESULTS

1. **Axelina Johansson’ (Nb-Swe) 63-3¼ (19.28) (x, =10 C)

(62-1¼ [6, 8 NCAA], 62-7¼ [5, 6 NCAA], 62-2½ [x, 8 NCAA], 62-1¾ [x, 10 NCAA], 62-3¾ [x, 7 NCAA], 63-3¼) (18.93, 19.08, 18.96, 18.94, 18.99, 19.28);

2. Jorinde van Klinken’ (Or-Neth) 60-7¾ (18.48)

(58-8, 59-5¾, 58-1¼, f, 58-6¾, 60-7¾) (17.88, 18.13, 17.71, f, 17.85, 18.48);

3. *Rosa Santana’ (UNLV-DR) 60-3¼ (18.37)

(54-6¾, 59-2, 60-3¼, 57-6¼, 60-2½, 57-6¼)…