Wehrli Makes Women's Hammer Throw Final at NCAA East Prelims

GREENSBORO, N.C. – On Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Round from North Carolina A&T's Aggie Stadium, Manhattan College's Lydia Wehrli (Anieres, Switzerland) just missed qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the women's hammer throw.  Seeded 22^nd out of 48 entrants, Wehrli ended up 15^th overall with a mark of 56.16 meters (184 feet, three inches).

Competing in the second of three flights, Wehrli got out to a distance of 54.16 m (177'8) on her first attempt.  Wehrli didn't improve on her second attempt and sat 14^th overall with one throw left.  On her third throw, she moved into fourth with a 56.07 m (183'11) effort.  Sitting in seventh place after the second flight concluded, Wehrli then had to sit and wait to see if her throw would hold up as one of the Top 16, which would earn her three additional attempts.  After all 16 athletes in the third flight took their three throws, Wehrli sat in 15^th place, meaning she would advance to the finals.

Wehrli improved slightly in the finals, but not enough to crack the Top 12 and qualify for Nationals.  Her best effort of 56.16 m (184'3) came on her last attempt of the competition, but was two meters short of 12^th place.