Track And Field: Aquila Breaks NCAA Record For Shot Put While Defending National Title

When Adelaide Aquila sees a record, she knows she’ll break it. On Thursday, the Ohio State track and field star won the NCAA Championship, defending her 2021 title and shattering the collegiate record ad program record with a 19.64m toss.

Aquila had the top-four throws in the national competition. The fifth-longest toss belonged to Jorinde Van Klinken of Arizona State — the event’s runner-up finisher — who threw an 18.58m. Nebraska freshman Axelina Johansson placed third at 18.06m.

As a former walk-on, Aquila turned into an Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year and multi-title winning shot put competitor for the Buckeyes. Last summer, she represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics in the event, making this year’s NCAA Championship another chapter in her decorated story.

“It’s definitely a crazy experience, even just going back thinking about it right now,” Aquila told TeamUSA.org earlier this week. “It still feels so surreal. But I would honestly just say that it was a testament to my hard work, trusting the process and ultimately realizing what I’m capable of.”

Aquila took advantage of Ohio State’s track and field resources during her career, developing into one of the sport’s most relentless competitors. With world-class athletes, coaches and performance specialists surrounding her in various settings, she will continue progressing with record-breaking potential at every turn.

“I’m looking to make the most of it and have fun with this great competition at the NCAAs,” Aquilla said before the event.

It’s safe to say Aquilla did that when she stepped on the highest level of the championship podium in Eugene, Ore., capping another tremendous season in an Ohio State uniform.

BUCKEYES QUALIFY FOR FINALS

• Anavia Battle broke her own school record when she finished the 200m race in 22.26 seconds. She ended the run in fourth place and qualified for the finals.
• The 4x100m relay team of (in order by running number) Yanique Dayle, Battle, Nya Bussey and Leah Bertrand finished sixth overall in the semifinals at 43.11 seconds, advancing them to the finals on Saturday.

SEMIFINALS RESULTS

• In the 4x400m relay, Jaydan Wood, Dayle, Chanler Robinson and Bryannia Murphy finished 12th overall and third in their heat with a 3:33.40.
• Alexus Pyles took 13th place in the 100m hurdles with her second-fastest time of the season at 13.07 seconds.
• Bussey led the Buckeyes in the 100m with a personal-best 11.23-second run that moved her to third in program history in the event. She finished 16th overall at the NCAAs. Dayle matched her personal-best time of 11.24 seconds to place 17th. Battle rounded out Ohio State’s competitors with an 11.43 dash to finish 22nd.
• In the 400m hurdles, Robinson finished 20th overall at 58.96 seconds.

FRIDAY

Ohio State’s men’s team wraps up its NCAA Championship on Friday with the first event beginning at 8:30 p.m. EST (5:30 p.m. PT). Pyles will begin her heptathlon on Friday at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).