Gauthier places fifth in hammer throw at NCAAs
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| Noah Gauthier ’08 captured All-America honors two days after being named the New England Field Athlete of the Year. (Joe Gromelski photo) |
OSHKOSH, Wis. — Bates College junior Noah Gauthier finished fifth in the men’s hammer throw Friday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, earning his second All-America award this year.
In exceptionally windy conditions, Gauthier (Amherst, N.H.) had the fourth-best throw in the preliminary round, 181 feet and 10 inches, to advance to the final, where his mark stood up as the fifth best in the competition, behind Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Kevin Becker (198-10), SUNY Brockport senior Jake Basher (196-01), Central College junior Jason Fisher (192-09) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior Jacob Gabrilska (182-02). He was 17 inches better than sixth-place Dominic Uguccioni of Springfield.
Gauthier captured his first All-America award at indoor nationals in March when he placed eighth in the 35-pound weight throw. He becomes the 11th Bates man to win All-America honors in the hammer throw, and the first since Scott Cooper ’05 in 2004. Gauthier also becomes the Bobcats’ first outdoor All-American since Joe Northrup ’05 in 2005.
“I guess it was a pretty good day; I was pretty happy with the place I finished in,” said Gauthier. “I was consistent all day, but I didn’t catch a big one.
“I’m happy with how the year has gone, and this season in general. I seem to be getting better and better, so hopefully I’ll win a national championships next year.”
Gauthier’s first-year teammate Rich McNeil (Lawrence, Mass.) competed in the discus throw at the NCAA Championships on Thursday, finishing in 14th place.