ROCK HILL, SC – Freshman Marthaline Cooper has qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the hammer throw and will compete at North Florida in Jacksonville on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Cooper, a native of Providence, RI, has a top throw in the hammer this year of 56.84 meters, which ranks her 33rd in the region, the top 48 qualify for the event. She is also the third-ranked freshman in the region in the event.
Cooper will be competing for a top-12 finish in the regional which would qualify her for the NCAA National Championships to be held June 11-14 in Eugene, OR.
As a freshman, Cooper has had a standout year. She has set the school record in the indoor weight throw as well as the outdoor hammer throw. Cooper won the Big South hammer throw title and earned All-Conference honors earlier this year.
"To have a freshman at this level is typically unheard of and very exciting," head coach Ben Paxton said. "A one-meter or more improvement at regionals gives her an opportunity to compete for the final and all-american honors. It's going to be fun to watch her over the next three years."
