Results
DES MOINES, Iowa – The men's hammer throw final was held on Friday night at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships from Drake University's Drake Stadium. With berths in the upcoming World Championships in Moscow on the line, former Manhattan College star Jake Freeman took fourth place with a best effort of 71.68 meters (235 feet, two inches).
Freeman, who won the 2010 national title at Drake Stadium, unleashed his best effort on his first throw of the competition, and he was unable to improve over his final five attempts. Three-time Olympian AG Kruger finished first with a toss of 75.52 m (247'9), while Chris Cralle took second (74.55 m, 244'7) and Andrew Loftin was third (73.63 m, 241'7).
Since Kruger is the only one of the top three finishers with a qualifying standard for the World Championships, Freeman still has a chance to represent the United States in Moscow. If he throws the “A” standard of 79.00 m (259'2) by July 20, Freeman will be selected. He can also make the team by throwing 76.00 m (249'4), the World Championships “B” standard, if Kruger reaches the “A” standard.
Freeman, an eight-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Manhattan, was looking to make his second World Championships team. He finished 15th at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, notching a top mark of 74.19 m (243'5).
