Riley's Rapid Rise Continues

Former Saluki wins hammer throw as Hastings, Hooker and Pickler make World Team

June 24, 2007

By Brett Hess

Special to CSTV.com

	Brett Hess Brett Hess covers Cross Country for CSTV.com E-mail here!

        ---   Column Archive   --- TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY 11/19: Kipyego, Stanford Win As Expected 11/19: Blow For Blow To The Finish 11/16: Practically A Sure Thing 11/16: Championship Field Is A History Lesson In Motion 11/6: Irish Hope Shay Is An Inspiration 10/30: Louisville's Emergence Continues 10/23: No Margin For Error 10/16: Kuijken, FSU Race Toward Postseason 10/09: Liberty's McDougal Begins Run For Title 10/02: Rice Women Surprise At Notre Dame 9/25: Invitational Season In Full Swing 9/19: Still Pinching Herself 9/11: Kipyego, Barringer Are Favorites 9/4: Lomong and Rupp Lead Returnees 6/8: Texas Tech's Kipyego Closes In On History 6/7: Arizona's Arnold Sets Record in Decathlon 6/5: FSU Isn't Feeling The Pressure 6/5: Throwers Lead Sun Devils to Sacramento 5/29: Stars Shine at NCAA Regional Meets 5/26: Florida State Primed For East Regional Title 5/26: Top-Ranked LSU Women Trailing At Mideast Regional 5/22: Hastings Does It Her Way 5/15: Wisconsin, Omole Make History at Big Ten Meet 5/8: Notre Dame's Huddle Finishing Strong 5/1: Drake or Penn? Why Not Both? 4/24: Hokies Show Courage In Competing 4/17: Senioritis is Good for Diana Pickler 4/10: Little Longhorn With Big Heart 3/26: Patience Pays Off For Duke's Rowbury 3/20: Just Like The Movies 3/11: Solinsky Leads Wisconsin To First-Ever Track Title 3/11: Front-Running Sun Devils 3/11: Saluki Strong 3/9: The Dual Is On 3/9: Stevens Helps Pace Sun Devils To Early Lead 3/6: Outdoor Champ FSU Favored Indoors 3/5: Sun Devils Look to Take Next Step 2/20: As Belt Leaps Higher, So Does L'ville 2/6: Huskies Running Out In Front 11/19: Stanford's Aiming For Repeat 11/19: Wisconsin Favored To Defend Title

INDIANAPOLIS - Two years ago Brittany Riley was a little-known shot putter and discus thrower on the Southern Illinois campus. Now she is the United States champion in the hammer throw and will be competing in the World Championships in Japan.

CSTV.com first reported on Riley's rapid rise in February when the she broke the world record in the weight throw, the indoor version of the hammer throw. Saturday, Riley's emergence took another huge leap forward.

Don't blame Riley for being at a loss for words. She admits that her mind is spinning like her body does when it's about to release the hammer. It doesn't seem that long ago that she was fighting with coach John Smith about even trying the event.

"I didn't want to even pick it up," Riley said of the hammer. "It just looked so scary."

Smith, a former all-American, instead offered: "Brittany had all the raw abilities that make hammer throwers great. She has the body and strength, but she has such great quickness, too. You have to be more than just strong -- you have to be quick and have great technique."

Riley's quick ascension in the hammer -- two weeks ago she placed second at the NCAA Championships -- isn't just about raw abilities and hard work. Sure, once Riley was convinced to try the hammer she hasn't looked back. But this story is about who asked her to pick up the hammer.

"My coaches are the greatest," Riley said of Smith and his wife, Connie Price-Smith.

Connie is the head coach at Southern Illinois and a former Olympian in the hammer throw.

"I don't think this would be possible without them," Riley said.

John Smith grudgingly admits it is a combination.

"Brittany has the ability and she has done the work," he said. "But success in life is about being in the right place at the right time and doing the right things. When you take great talent, a strong work ethic and add coaching, this can happen. It has to be a perfect fit."

Smith says he's the practice coach but that Connie is the meet-day coach.

And that was the case Saturday when, after each of Riley's first five throws, the star pupil chatted with Connie.

"I get her ready, but you still need to have that personal touch. You have to be in the right frame of mind," John Smith said. "Connie is really good at getting Brittany in the right frame of mind."

Saturday, Riley certainly was. On her very first throw she qualified for the finals. On her second throw -- still in the preliminaries -- she threw 70.80 meters. It was a mark that won the competition. For a celebratory final throw in the finals, Riley recorded a 72.41, narrowly missing the U.S. record of 73.87.

"As a coach, I love boring meets," John Smith said. "I love it when Brittany wraps up the win on her first two throws. There's no drama in it."

As for Riley, she still can't believe all this has happened so suddenly.

"It is amazing," Riley said. "I didn't even make finals last year so this feels really good. I just kept working at it."

Hastings Sprints To Second In 400

South Carolina star sprinter Natasha Hastings finished second in the 400-meters and broke the 50-second barrier in the process. Hastings recorded a time of 49.84, just behind De'Hashia Trotter who won in 49.64.

The place earns Hastings a berth in the U.S. team later this summer at the World Championships.

"I got out of the blocks good," Hastings said of her start. "The conditions weren't that great but I kept my focus. God has been so good to me."

With a spot on the World Team locked up, Hastings later withdrew from the 200-meter preliminaries. In Japan, Hastings is slated to run not only the 400-meter but also compete on the U.S.'s 4x400-meter relay team.

Texas' Hooker Places Third In High Jump

Destinee Hooker, the recent NCAA champ in the high jump, also made the U.S. team for the World Championships by jumping 6-feet, 1.25 inches. Amy Acuff won the competition with a leap of 6-2.25, edging runner-up Sharon Day (same height).

Diana Pickler Bounces Back In Heptathlon

Two weeks ago, Washington State's Diana Pickler suffered the most unimaginable fate at the NCAA Championships. As Day One of the heptathlon wound down and she was finishing off a great day, Pickler was disqualified in the 200-meters for running outside of her lane. The lapse cost Pickler a NCAA title.

Saturday, Pickler finished off a remarkable comeback by placing second in the heptathlon and making the U.S. team for the World Championships. Pickler finished with 6,029 points, while Hyleas Fountain won with 6,090 points.

This time, in the 200 (the last event of Day One), Pickler ran a 24.07 and earned 974 points. It was enough to vault her into the lead. Though Fountain reclaimed the lead by winning the long jump (first event of Day Two), Pickler remained close.

NCAA Decathlon Champ Arnold Places Third

Robert Arnold of Arizona, coming off his record-setting victory in the NCAA's, placed third Saturday in the decathlon with 7,921 points. The event was won by Tom Pappas (8,352), and Paul Terek was runner-up (8,064).

"Making the transition from the NCAA to the pros, it's the best you can do," Arnold said. "I knew I had to run close to my PR in the 1,500 [to qualify for the World Championships]. Looking up at the scoreboard and being third took all the pain away. To come up with third, I'm ecstatic."