D'Ana McCarty Repeats as National Champion

D'Ana McCarty Repeats as National Champion


March 13, 2010


Fayetteville, Ark. - The University of Louisville's D'Ana McCarty won the women's track and field program's second-ever NCAA championship. McCarty dominated her competition by almost four feet to repeat and defend her national title in the weight throw at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday at the University of Arkansas's Randal Tyson Track Center.

"It's exciting to repeat," said McCarty.

Overall, the Cardinal women finished day one of the championships tied for sixth place with Iowa State and UTEP at 10 points thanks to McCarty's stellar victory, while Auburn holds the lead with 18 points. The Tigers were followed by Tennessee in second with 16 points while Arizona is in third with 15.5 points. Oregon sits in fourth with 13 points.

McCarty, a junior, won the weight throw with a school record mark of 74-08.25 (22.76m). McCarty surpassed her own previous record of 74-00.25 (22.56m) which she set with her win at this years BIG EAST Championships to gain the top overall mark on the NCAA descending order list. The Indianapolis, Ind. native had not lost a meet in two seasons entering the championships and made it 18 straight wins as she earned All-American status for the second-straight year, the fifth time in women's program history. She beat her closest competitor by almost four feet. Senior Jere' Summers (Berkeley HS, Cal State Northridge), who had the second-best mark in the NCAA entering this weekend, fouled on all of her attempts and did not score.

"I was hoping to come in and throw 23 meters, but I tried to start out further back in the ring and it didn't really workout, but it was a PR so I'm happy with it," said McCarty. "It's very exciting to repeat. I've been hoping for this since I won it last year."

"This is a great accomplishment for D'Ana," said U of L assistant coach Dale Cowper. "She is a tremendous athlete and is still improving every week. We look forward to working to come back to next years championships."


U of L captured their fourth track and field NCAA national championship in four years and sixth overall, joining McCarty's win in last years NCAA Championships, Tone Belt and Andre Black who won the long and triple jump titles at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships and the 1980 and 1986 men's basketball teams.

Senior Saravia Richardson kicked off the meet for the Cardinals as she finished 13th in the prelims of the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.39. The Moreno Valley, Calif. native finished off a brilliant indoor season and career in which she set the school record in the event at the Virginia Tech Last Chance Meet on March 6, 2010 to give her the 6th best time entering the weekend.

The Louisville men concluded day one with senior Tone Belt earning his sixth All- American award placing 8th in the long jump as he leaped 25-04.00 (7.72m). Belt, the 2007 long jump champion, had the 14th best jump in the NCAA heading into this weekend's championships. Senior Rudon Bastian placed 15th in the long jump with a jump of 23-08.00 (7.21m). The men's team is tied with Texas and Oklahoma State in 35th place after day one with 1 point.

"We as a coaching staff are so proud of D'Ana McCarty and the way she performs at the highest level of the NCAA," said U of L head coach Ron Mann. "This is a historic moment for her and our school and I am excited for Coach Cowper and our entire program. We are very excited and are looking forward to our events tomorrow."

Action will continue on Saturday at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships for the Cards with Summers in the preliminary and finals of the women's shot put at 4:30 p.m. CT. The Cardinals will conclude their 2010 indoor season with 2007 NCAA Champion Andre Black in the preliminary and finals of the men's triple jump tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. CT.

Courtesy Louisville

NCAA Indoor Championships - Fayetteville, Arkansas
Day One Results
Women's Team Standings (Through 6 events)
1 Auburn 18 points
2 Tennessee 16 points
3 Arizona 15.5 points
4 Oregon 13 points
5 Penn State 11 points
6 LOUISVILLE 10 points
6 Iowa State 10 points
6 UTEP 10 points
9 West Virginia 9 points
10 Nebraska 8.5 points

U of L Women's Individual Results
60-Meter Dash- Prelims
13 Richardson, Saravia 7.39
Weight Throw
1 McCarty, D'Ana *A22.76m/74-08.25
-- Summers, Jere' Foul
Men's Team Standings (Through 6 events)
1 Arkansas 24 points
2 Florida 20 points
3 Florida State 14 points
4 Arizona State 12 points
5 Texas A&M 10 points
5 Northern Arizona 10 points
5 Washington 10 points
5 Oregon 10 points
9 West Virginia 9 points
35 LOUISVILLE 1 point
35 Texas 1 point
35 Oklahoma State 1 point
U of L Men's Individual Results
Long Jump
8 Belt, Tone A7.72m/25-04.00
15 Bastian, Rudon 7.21m/23-08.00


* = School Record
A = Earns All-American Honors