DES MOINES, Iowa – Texas A&M senior Sam Humphreys broke his own school record in the javelin and placed second in the USATF Championships to earn a trip to the World Championships, held this August in Moscow, Russia.
Humphreys threw a career best of 272-9 (83.14) in round four, which placed him second to a 273-11 (83.50) from Riley Dolezal produced in the same round. Sean Furey and Barry Krammes tied for third place with a throw of 253-10 (77.36). Furey broke the tie as his second best effort was 10 feet better than Krammes.
The effort by Humphreys bettered his A&M school record of 268-8 (81.90) and moves him to No. 10 on the American all-time list. The 2012 Olympic Trials winner and 2013 NCAA champion, Humphreys qualifies for his first international team. The World Championships take place from August 10-18 in Moscow.
“I thought my throws were pretty good,” said Humphreys. “Especially throwing a new PR, you can’t be upset about that. I wasn’t expecting to throw as far as I did. The champion threw a bomb and the competition was great.”
Dolezal’s winning mark matched the World Championship A standard, while Humphreys has the B standard. Dolezal won the Drake Relays here in Des Moines during April with a then career best of 243-6 (74.22). He led the first flight of throwers with a 252-4 (76.93) from the third round.
Humphreys took over the lead with his first round toss of 268-5 (81.82) in the second flight. The rest of the series included a foul, 236-1, 272-9, 259-10 and 258-0. Aggie sophomore Devin Bogert placed 13th with a mark of 229-9 (70.04).
Curtis Mitchell finished third in the 200 meter final to match his PR of 19.99 from 2010, the same season he won the NCAA Indoor 200m title and was runner-up at NCAA Outdoor. A member of the World Junior team in 2008, Mitchell makes his first World Championship team.
Tyson Gay won the 200 in 19.74 (wind +1.6) with Isiah Young (19.86) in second. Texas A&M senior Ameer Webb finished fifth with a career best time of 20.20 behind Wallace Spearmon’s 20.10. Webb, the NCAA Champion indoors and outdoors, moves to No. 3 on the Aggie all-time list with the No. 5 performance as he lowered his best wind-legal time of 20.30 from the SEC prelims earlier this season.
Also making it to the World Championships was Aries Merritt, the Olympic champion in 2012 and world record holder, placed third in the 110 hurdles with a 13.23 (wind +1.4) as Ryan Wilson claimed the title in 13.08 with David Oliver second at 13.11.
Just narrowly missing an opportunity to make the World Championships in the women’s 200 was Aggie sophomore Kamaria Brown, who placed fourth in the final with a 22.16w (+3.2 wind). Her time was just 0.01 behind A&M grad Jeneba Tarmoh, who clocked 22.15w for third place.
LSU’s Kimberlyn Duncan, a three-time NCAA 200m champion, won the race in 21.80w while Allyson Felix placed second in 21.85w. Brown recorded the fastest time ever by an Aggie sprinter, under all-conditions, improving upon her previous best of 22.21w.
“It was a great experience,” said Brown. “I feel blessed to have made the final and run against some great ladies. I lost by 0.01 of a second of making the team, so hopefully my time will come.”
“I’m very happy with my time, it was a great race to be in and I’m very happy with a PR racing against a great field. It shows me how well I’m doing against this caliber of athletes.”
Tyron Stewart finished eighth in the long jump with a mark of 26-1.5w (7.96). In the semifinals of the 200 Porscha Lucas placed seventh in her heat with a 23.58 while Aggie sophomore Olivia Ekpone finished eighth in 23.60.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics