New Jersey's Jessica Woodard continued her amazing season in the circle by finishing eighth in the women's shot put and Keturah Orji came up with a clutch jump on her final attempt to advanced to the triple jump final at Saturday's World Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon.
Woodard, who graduated from Cherokee High in 2013, unloaded a 61-3 on her third attempt to lock up the eighth and final spot in the final round. Woodard finished just ahead of Maggie Ewen of the U.S (61.1.75), who was finished ninth. Ewen placed fifth at the World Indoor Championships.
Although she didn't improve her place over her final three throws, Woodard's performance in her first time representing the U.S. added to remarkable campaign, which was highlighted by a personal best 63-7.75 to finish third at the U.S. Championships last month. That's No. 14 in U.S. history and No. 1 all-time among NJ athletes.
Chase Ealey won the shot with a 67-2.75 to become the first U.S. woman to ever win the event. Did you know that Ealey won a state title in the 100-meter dash and ran 11.92 when she attended Los Alamos High School in New Mexico. Now she's the world champ in the shot put!!! How ridiculous is that!!!
Orji, the American record holder in the triple jump and a 2014 graduate of Mount Olive High, needed a big jump on her third attempt in the qualification round to advance to Monday's 12-woman final that's scheduled for 9:20 p.m.
Orji, a two-time Olympian, wasn't in the top 12 after her first two attempts of 14.23 and 13.62 meters, but she exploded for a 47-1.75 on her last jump to finish seventh overall to secure a berth in the final. Last month, Orji leaped a meet record and wind-legal 48-6.25 to win her sixth U.S. outdoor championship in the TJ.