Swanson came within one throw of becoming Saint Mary’s first-ever NCAA Division III outdoor national champion last Thursday, uncorking a school-record throw of 46.65 meters to finish second in the 19-athlete at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
In fact, with just Southern Maine’s Sophia Slovenski left to throw, Swanson had a strangle-hold on the national title, leading the field by more than three meters. Slovenski, however, saved her best throw for last, delivering a winning throw of 48.21 meters to snatch that coveted national crown away from the Cardinal sophomore.
Sitting sixth after her first two throws in the first of two flights, posting marks of 38.65 meters and 37.12 meters, Swanson leap-frogged all five competitors in front of her with her school-record throw of 46.65 — nearly three meters more than the previous mark of 43.78m set by Ashley Luehmann in 2007.
Swanson’s 46.65-meter toss put her three meters in front of the rest of the field, with Slovenski sitting second heading into the three finals throws with a mark of 43.66. The mark withstood the first two rounds of the finals — and the first seven throws of the finals. All that stood between Swanson and that elusive national championships was Slovenski’s final throw.
Unfortunately for Swanson, that final throw was the best of the afternoon.
