GWU's Alex Young Places 13th in Men's Weight Throw at 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships
March 15, 2014 | Track & Field
Albuquerque, N.M. - Gardner-Webb's Alex Young became the first Runnin' Bulldog to compete at NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships since 2008, placing 13th in the men's weight throw with a distance of 20.05 m.
Young (LaVergne, Tenn.), moved up three spots from his #16 seeding thanks to a big second throw. After tossing 18.77 m (61' 7") on his first throw, the sophomore thrower unleashed for a distance of 20.05 m (65' 9.5") to move up and secure the 13th spot in the event.
With the 13th place finish, Young earned Second Team All-America honors.
The performance marks the first time a Gardner-Webb student-athlete has competed at NCAA Track & Field Championships since Elliot Haynie cracked the top 10 of the men's pole vault at 2008 Indoor Nationals.
In a field dominated by upperclassmen as well as a strong group of sophomores, Young was fifth-best among underclassmen. Wisconsin junior Michael Lihrman won on the last throw of the event with a distance of 23.25 m (76' 3.5"), overtaking Oklahoma State junior Nick Miller's second-best distance of 23.07 m (75' 8.25").
The school-record holder in the men's weight throw as well as the Indoor men's shot put, Young's career-building step at NCAA Indoor Championships figures to transition right into the Outdoor season.
Gardner-Webb track & field was also represented this weekend at the March 14-15 Coastal Carolina Invitational in the Runnin' Bulldogs' Outdoor season-opener.
Next on the schedule for GWU is the 49er Invitational (Charlotte, N.C.), taking place Thursday, March 20 through Saturday, March 22.
