Carlyssa King throwing hammer at CCIW Championships 2024

ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO

Hammer Throw Produces Strong Start in Track and Field Outdoor Opener

Competition resumes at ISU Saturday at 10 a.m.

3/28/2025 6:41:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. – Wind gusts of up to 40 mph were not enough to stifle the Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field hammer throwers Friday, March 28 at the Redbird Challenge hosted by Illinois State University. The hammer throw was the only event of the day with three Titans in the field. Competition resumes at Redbird Track and Field Complex Saturday, March 28 at 10 a.m. along with another group of Titans heading to Decatur, Ill. for the Big Blue Alumni Invite with events starting at 10 a.m.

Senior Carlyssa King (Decatur, Ill.-Forsyth-Maroa) opened the day's competition in flight one of the women's hammer throw and quickly made her presence known, as her first throw of the day earned her the top mark in the field. The senior's 52.78m (173'2") throw in prelims carried her through to the finals and remained the best mark in the 21-person field. King's mark is currently the top mark in Division III this season.

Seniors CJ Ladewig (Palos Heights, Ill.-Stagg) and Sam Hea (Quincy, Ill.-Quincy Notre Dame) competed on the men's side with Ladewig turning in a runner-up finish while Hea finished 16th as both Titans turned in personal-best efforts in the event. Ladewig led the first flight and earned a spot in the finals where, on his sixth and final throw of the day, he belted a 53.85m (176'8") personal-best throw to earn second in the field of 26. Ladewig's mark moves him up to third in IWU's program history and currently sits fifth in Division III.

Hea's personal-best of 42.19m (138'5") came on his final throw of the day and is over a three-meter improvement for the senior.

Illinois Wesleyan will continue competition at the Redbird Challenge Saturday, March 29 while another group of Titans will head to the Big Blue Alumni Invite in Decatur, Ill. Both meets will begin field events at 10 a.m. with running events to follow at noon.

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