Wheeler Earns Honorable Mention All-America

Thursday, June 10

Eugene, Ore.

4 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

NCAA Championships

6/10/2021 7:48:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

EUGENE, Ore. – Quiara Wheeler finished 22^nd in the hammer throw on Thursday to earn All-America Honorable Mention at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

The best throw for Wheeler, a junior from Flint, measured 62.64 meters (205 feet, 6 inches). It came on her third attempt after she fouled on her first two.

"The first one was a significant foul, and her second throw was a really good throw, she just barely fouled; it was so close to a good throw," CMU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jenny Swieton said. "To come back on the third one and keep her composure and her poise and get one in and get a mark, you can tell that she's been at this level before.

"She competed really, really well and gave it everything that she had."

It marked the second time that Wheeler has earned All-America honors. She earned second-team accolades in March when she placed 10^th at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Cal's Camryn Rogers, the 2019 NCAA champion, placed first in a collegiate record 75.52 meters (247-9).

"This is probably the best hammer throw competition in NCAA history," Swieton said. "It was legit insane.

"I know the finish wasn't what (Wheeler) was hoping for, but we know that she's capable of a ton. I'm really proud of the way she handled herself given the circumstances and the situation. It's definitely great experience for the future. The more you experience you get, the better you handle it."