It took Florence Ezeh four throws to clinch her second consecutive NCAA hammer title, and her second of 2000. The junior from Sartrouville, France led the competition after the first two rounds in the first flight, but Nebraska Junior Melissa Price took the lead in the third round when she set an NCAA Meet record with a throw of 64.24m (210-9). This eclipsed the old meet record of 63.82 (209-4) set in 1998 by Lisa Misipeka of the University of South Carolina. In the first round of finals, Ezeh launched a throw of 64.56m (211-10) to retake the lead for good and reset the collegiate meet record.

This caps off an undefeated collegiate year for Ezeh. She was undefeated by collegians in the weight indoors and the hammer outdoors.

The event was the first contested at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Durham, North Carolina. SMU now leads the meet scoring after one event with 10 points ahead of Nebraska with eight and Wyoming with six.

SMU had two other competitors in the event. Nancy Guillen made the final as the ninth and final qualifier, where she finished. Freshman Julianna Tudja finished 13th, and did not make the final.

Also competing today for the Mustangs are Mark Simmons and Janus Robberts in the men's discus final at 2:30 PM EST, Tytti Reho in the women's 800m semifinal at 7:50 EST, and Tracey Ball in the women's 200m preliminary at 9:05 PM EST.

Quotes from Ezeh:

On how it feels to win again: "It's awesome. Perfect!"
"Moving into second got me really upset. I wanted to win, so I did that."

Ezeh needs a throw of 67 meters to go to the Olympics. "I'm always ready to throw 67, but it never happens. But I will. I have to. I don't have any choice."

How was this victory compared to your dramatic indoor weight title that you won on your last throw?
"In indoors, I was leading until the final throw (when I lost the lead and had to regain it on my final throw). Here I was in second going into the final."

"The first throw, I was so tense, I couldn't throw. The second throw, I tried to improve, but couldn't. Nothing worked out. In the final, my first throw was ok."

On Melissa Price passing her again: "If she comes back, I will be ready. She's not me. She doesn't win on her last throw."
"I knew she wasn't used to that kind of tension."

"I'm really, really happy."