CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois senior Jordan Koskondy has made remarkable strides in hammer throwing since she took up the sport in her final year of high school. Her dedication paid off with a stellar fifth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Koskondy secured her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships following an impressive junior year. During that season, she claimed fourth place at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Competing in Oregon, Koskondy exceeded her own expectations by achieving a personal best throw of 69.24 meters. This remarkable feat not only earned her a fifth-place finish but also ranked as the second-best throw in the history of the program, securing her All-American honors.
“Honestly, I’m still on cloud nine from the nationals,” Koskondy admitted. “I’ve been consistently throwing 66 and 67 meters this season, so making such a big leap was immensely satisfying.”
Looking ahead, Koskondy plans to return to Champaign-Urbana in July to begin preparations for her senior season. She is eager to build on her success and has set high aspirations for her performance in the ring.
“Starting off with how I finished this last season is something that I’m going to shoot for, so being able to start that building block from how I ended with my best mark and indoor and then my last mark during nationals as well as for something that I want to build off of,” said Koskondy.
The Illini finished eighth in the women’s team standings.