Pirinelli Is All America Again in Weight Throw

by: 

Whit Haynes

Alyssa Pirinelli finished fifth in Friday's NCAA weight throw championship

Alyssa Pirinelli added to her collection of All America plaques on Friday, finishing fifth with a throw of 17.63 meters at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at DePauw University.

Pirinelli was just under her personal best of 17.65 meters and earned All America for the second time in the event. She is a three time All America in the shot put indoors and will go after her fourth All America finish in that event on Saturday. She has the top throw in the nation in the shot thus far this season.

Friday's finish was the eighth All America performance of her career including both indoor and outdoor track. Her best throw of 17.63 (57-10.25) came on her second throw of the competition and placed her fifth going into the final.

Holly Ozanich of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the national title with a throw of 19.64 meters (64-5.25) which she hit on the final throw of the competition, although her first throw in the meet of 19.08 meters was enough to win the competition.

Wendy Pavlus will also compete for the Saints on Saturday, running in the 5000 meter championship in the late afternoon.