June 10, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's Samantha Springer will compete in the discus throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday. The women's discus throw will begin at 10:30 a.m., in Fayetteville, Ark. The top-12 qualifiers from Thursday's round will advance to Saturday's final round.
Head coach Elvis Forde believes Springer has earned her bid to the championship and reached a level most athletes dream of.
"I think this is a great opportunity for Sam," said Forde. "After four years of trying to reach the national level, to do it at the end of her career is a great accomplishment. Most athletes would love to have reached the national competition before the end of their career, but most times you do not come into college as a national contender. It takes time for development, and Sam has gone through that process. Sam always had the potential to be at the national meet, but injuries in the past prevented her from advancing."
The Tremont, Ill., native earned an at-large bid into the tournament after finishing in 10th place in the discus throw at the 2009 NCAA Mideast Region Track and Field Championships held in Louisville, Ky., May 29. Her throw of 161-5 placed her in the top-12 in the discus at the championships.
Springer's season-best and Missouri Valley Conference Championship winning throw of 172-4 places her at No. 15 out of 26 competitors for Thursday's competition.
"My hopes are that Sam is going to the competition with the expectation that she will be a finalist and not just a participant in the national championships," said Forde. "I want her to go and be fearless, while trying to qualify to be in the finals. She has gotten the marks to be there."
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