University of North Carolina Athletics
Gerraughty Wins Shot Put Indoor National Title, Sets New Collegiate All-Time Record
March 13, 2004 | Track & Field
March 13, 2004
UNC's Laura Gerraughty broke her own all-time collegiate record for the women's shot put and took home her second consecutive NCAA Indoor shoot put title on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark. Gerraughty, a junior and a native of Nashua, N.H. threw for a mark of 62-10, as she also set the fieldhouse record and NCAA Collegiate meet record in the process. UNC's Alice Schmidt placed fifth in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:05.30 and the Carolina women finished 12th overall with 14 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Gerraughty wrapped up a phenomonal indoor season as she has won ACC titles in the shot put and weight throw, won the U.S. Nationals in the shot put, set the all-time women's collegiate shot put record and was also named the Southeastern Women's Athlete of the Year. Gerraughty's mark of 62-10 at the NCAA Championships bested the second place finisher by over six feet as Stanford's Jill Camarena was the runner-up with a throw of 56-8. Gerraughty is expected to be a leading candidate for the Olympic Games this summer for the United States in the women's shot put event.
"Laura has just done an excellent job," said UNC head track & field coach Dennis Craddock. "She won the U.S. Nationals and beat all the pros and then came here and in back-to-back years has won the NCAA title. To do all the things she did today to win that title is just unbelievable."
"She has grown up so much with knowing what she needs to do to get herself physically and mentally ready. Coach Blutreich has done a great job with her getting her physically and mentally ready. We are so proud of her for how well she did."
Schmidt, a senior from Elkhorn, Neb. placed fifth in the women's 800-meter with a time of 2:05.30. She is a two-time national champion in the outdoor 800-meters and the fifth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Indoors makes her a 10-time All America in her collegiate career.
"We are really happy for Alice," said Craddock. "She really helped us finish in the top 15 in the country."
UNC's Vikas Gowda competed in the men's shot put on Friday and placed 11th with a throw of 58-8 3/4. The women's distance medley relay team of Megan Kaltenbach, Anissa Gainey, Schmidt and Erin Donohue placed 12th with a time of 11:28.22.
Overall the women placed tied for 12th with 14 points. Gerraughty picked up 10, while Schmidt contributed four points.
"We are happy to finish in the top 15," said Craddock. "Without Shalane Flanagan, I think it is a pretty good job because Shalane really put us up there in the past. I'm happy with our team finish, but I am ecstatic with how well Laura did."
