EUGENE, OR – Maryland’s Chioma Njoku will compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by the University of Oregon on Thursday afternoon as she takes part in the hammer throw. Njoku is slated to begin competition at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT) with the competition streamed live on ESPN+.

She is slated to be the fourth thrower in the second flight of competitors. Her personal-best mark of 65.60 meters (215′ 3″) was set at the NCAA East First Round meet in Jacksonville, FL where she finished sixth to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Njoku ranks ninth among all hammer throwers in the NCAA East and is 27th nationally. She holds the program record at Maryland for the event and is second all-time in the indoor weight throw. In addition to her NCAA East First Round performance, Njoku also placed fifth this spring at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships which were also held at Hayward Field.

For her career, Njoku, who began her career at Delaware, has also been honored as a USTFCCA All-Academic Honoree as well as a CSC Academic All-District selection. She has also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

This will mark the third consecutive year Maryland has been represented by a thrower at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In 2023, Jeff Kline earned honorable mention All-America honors in the shot put, while last spring, Kayla Thorpe was a second team All-America in the javelin.

EUGENE, OR – Today is the start of the NCAA Championships for track and field, which will run through Saturday.

The Washington State Cougars have some impressive talent taking the field over the week.

The Washington State men’s track and field program will compete in four events at the 2025 NCAA Division 1 outdoor track and field championship.

Athletes will be taking the field at the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. They will start the event with a 4×100-meter relay.

The Cougs competing over the week are Bryson Stubblefield, Mason Lawyer, Parker Duskin, and Kennan Kuntz.

This quartet for the Cougs blasted a school record of 39.09 seconds at the NCAA West Regionals to qualify for the semifinals.

Starting at 5:25 pm, Mason Lawyer will be running in the 100 m dash.

Lawyer had qualified at the West Regionals with a blazing sprint of 9.95 seconds.

Lawyer will continue his stellar season at 6:29 pm with the 200-meter dash national semifinal.

He had qualified while the Cougs were down in College Station, Texas, with a school record of 20.34 seconds.

Cougs sophomore Evans Kuru,i who has the fastest 10.000 meter run in the NCAA this season at 28:19.22 with a ticket punched to the final.

Also, Kurui placed fifth at the regional championships and will run starting at 6:56 pm.

The WSU relay team and lawyer will be seeking a qualifying spot in Friday’s National finals.

Tomorrow, Thursday, June 12th, the Championships will continue with day 1 for the women.

Ann Storck Center – a Fort Lauderdale-based private nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosted its 39th Annual All Heart Volleyball Challenge on the sand in Pompano Beach on June 7.

Players in attendance bumped, set and gave back to support the Center’s mission throughout all its programs and services to discover ability and build independence so that individuals live happier, more independent, fulfilling lives. The annual event raised $17,000 and awareness for the Ann Storck Center, which accommodates 96 permanent residents and serves more than 300 clients daily through an array of critical care, learning and ability-focused programs.

Players enjoyed a fun-filled day of volleyball, a live DJ, a raffle, prizes, lunch, dinner, beverages and more. Supporters played in co-ed 6’s volleyball teams in the beach volleyball tournament in competitive or recreational divisions.

“We are filled with gratitude after an unforgettable day at the 39th
Annual All Heart Volleyball Challenge on Pompano Beach,” said Ann Stock Center CEO Patricia (Pat) Murphy. “Seeing our community come together to support Ann Storck Center and the individuals we serve is truly inspiring. It reminds us of the strength and compassion surrounding our mission.”

Ann Storck Center thanks the sponsors for their generous support. 2025 sponsors are Beach House, Lucky Fish Beach Bar + Grill, Oceanic, Jet’s Pizza, Parkshore Pharmacy, Lowes, Gulf Stream Brewery, TDON and CHEW.

For more information, visit annstorckcenter.org/

Paso Robles High School celebrates student-athletes’ academic and athletic achievements during College Signing Day ceremony

PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles High School proudly hosted its annual College Signing Day on Tuesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. in Gil Asa Gym, honoring five outstanding student-athletes who have committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

This special event celebrates the hard work, determination, and achievement of student-athletes who have earned the opportunity to compete in college athletics. It also acknowledges the unwavering support of families, coaches, educators, and teammates who have helped shape their journey.

The following Bearcat athletes signed their National Letters of Intent:

• Tyler Daillak – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (Division I Cross Country & Track & Field)
• Park Craig – California Lutheran University (Football)
• Denisse De La Cruz Lopez – Missouri Valley College (Wrestling)
• Garrett Haggmark – Seattle University (Division I Swimming)
• Ezra Smeltzer – Cuesta College (Water Polo & Swimming)

“We are incredibly proud of these student-athletes and the commitment they have shown to both their academic and athletic goals,” said Michael Sauret, Athletic Director at Paso Robles High School. “Their success reflects the strength of our school community and the dedication of everyone who has supported them along the way.”

Related

The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are underway at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The action kicked off on Wednesday, June 11 and concludes on Saturday, June 14. The men will compete on Wednesday and Friday, while the women will compete on Thursday and Saturday.

Here are the results from the finals of the meet.

Day 1: Wednesday, June 11

Men’s hammer throw

1. Kostas Zaltos (Minnesota) – 78.08m
2. Angelos Mantzouranis (Minnesota) – 76.96m
3. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ole Miss) – 76.78m
4. Texas Tanner (Air Force) – 75.22m
5. Rory Devaney (Cal Poly) – 74.16m
6. Ryan Johnson (Iowa) – 71.91m
7. Daniel Reynolds (Wyoming) – 69.68m
8. Christian Toro (Duke) – 68.94m

Theo Kahler is the news editor at Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)

The Long Beach track and field world lost one of its most beloved and respected coaches two weeks ago with the passing of Chucky Hampton following an illness.

Hampton, a 1994 alum of Long Beach Poly, was a jumps coach who mentored and coached many of the city’s best and brightest athletes over the last two decades. No matter what school an athlete went to, Hampton loved working with Long Beach kids, whether as a club coach at the youth level, or with the city’s best high school leapers.

Poly coach Crystal Irving paid tribute to Hampton, who passed away shortly the Poly boys won a CIF-SS title, and Wilson won the girls’ title (with Poly in second).

“I went to visit him and took the CIF trophy to share the good news and pray and love on him,” she said. “Yesterday morning, God said it is time to go home with him. Your job here is done. I don’t know how we got through the season or even the day, just had to keep pushing for the kids.”

Irving remembered Hampton’s ability to look at an athlete and imagine a brilliant future for them based on their physical gifts.

“Just an amazing coach to youth and college athletes, he managed to bring out the best in each one he coached,” she said. 

Hampton competed for Poly in high school, then at LBCC where he was the MVP in 1997. A two-time Moore League long jump champ, he was the recipient of the Mark Carrier Award and Leon Foreman Award at Poly. An assistant coach with Poly, Wilson, Cabrillo and many other schools through the years, Hampton had been on the staff at Cerritos College for the last two decades, coaching eight individual state champions as well as 27 SoCal and conference champs.

Hampton’s coaching legacy was felt up in Clovis at last weekend’s CIF State Finals, where one of his many mentees, Loren Webster, brought home a long jump state title for Wilson just days after his passing. 

Known for a personality as bright as his coaching acumen, Hampton’s many athletes flooded social media with tributes to Hampton and his impact on their lives.

“Words can’t express the gratitude that I have for Coach Chucky, rest easy,” wrote Poly alum and UCLA long jumper Jade McDonald. 

Poly alum and Texas A&M All-American Zhane Smith is now a pro jumper. She wrote, “You made such an impact on so many lives, especially mine. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Really the only person who still believed in me till this day. I promise to finish the job we started together.”

A strong testimony came from Poly alum Ariana Washington, a high school and college All-American, champion, and Olympian.

“My first coach–you always gave me everything you had and pushed me to do the same in everything I ever did. Your voice in my head got me through many workouts even in college. I’ll never forget any of our conversations and many moments when I needed a kick in the ass or a reminder of who I was. I felt so proud coming home after Rio to see you at the jumps pit…

“I’ll never understand what you and your mom saw in me as a little 8th grader at a middle school track meet that I ran in with not a lick of practice–you told my mom you’d guarantee I would go to college for free if I joined the Long Beach Sprinters. You were right, like you always were about many things. You were a genius.

“I will forever remember you for all that you are: unapologetic, loud, motivating, and selfless. LOVE YOU FOREVER + REST IN HEAVEN COACH CHUCKY.”

Service info is pending and will be posted when available.