Schwendtner Wins Hammer Throw Title to Lead University of Delaware at Final Day of Penn Relays
April 30, 2011
• PHILADELPHIA -- University of Delaware junior Jim Schwendtner (at right) picked a good time to post the best performance of his career Saturday afternoon as he captured the College Hammer Throw title at the Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field.
Schwendtner, the defending Colonial Athletic Association champion in the event, tossed the hammer 196-feet, 1-inch, to capture the event and highlight the University of Delaware’s final day at the prestigious event that attracts some of the nation’s top track and field performers.
“This was a great chance for me to give our program a chance to shine,” said Schwendtner. “Each competition is an opportunity to represent (throwing coach) Coach (Larry) Pratt, the team, the alumni, and the rest of our coaching staff. Hopefully I will have a few more big throws the rest of the season.”
In addition to Schwendtner, Delaware’s Ryan Braunagel placed 12th in the hammer (177-5) and Connor Whitesel finished 17th in the same event with a toss of 174-6.
On the women’s side, Delaware competed in just one event on the day as the 4 x 800 meter relay squad of Emily Gispert, Lindsay Prettyman, Jessica Olsen, and Rachel Wasserman placed 13th overall with a time of 9:08.49. The time was just two seconds off the school record set in 1993 and helped Delaware finish ahead of such schools as Houston, William & Mary, and Georgia Tech. Stony Brook won the race with a time of 8:51.53.
Schwendtner, a native of Ballston Lake, N.Y. (Shenendehowa High School) who also was the 2009 CAA runner-up in the hammer, ran his career meet win total to six with the victory. His throw, the second best in school history, surpassed his previous career-long throw by nearly seven feet and was just 11 feet off the school record of 207-8 by Wade Coleman in 1993.
Both Delaware teams will return to action next weekend when they compete at the CAA Championships at VCU in Richmond, Va.
AGATE:
Delaware Men’s Finishers: 1st Place - Jim Schwendtner, hammer (196-1); 12th Place - Ryan Braunagel, hammer (177-5); 17th Place - Connor Whitesel, hammer (174-6).
