American women’s hammer record-holder, Olympian makes surprise stop at Wichita State
The greatest American women’s hammer thrower made a surprise stop in Wichita on Friday to compete in the Wichita State track and field team’s Shocker Open meet.
DeAnna Price, the 2019 world champion and a two-time Olympian who holds the American record and the second-best hammer throw in history, drove eight hours from her home in Carbondale, Illinois to compete unattached in Wichita.
“I was actually supposed to go to Bloomington, Indiana, but there was a crazy storm that came through,” Price said. “So we started looking at meets that were somewhat close by and we found this one. I needed a couple of meets to shake off the rust.”
Price’s presence turned what would have otherwise been a mundane tune-up meet the week before the conference meet into a spectacle.
Andale track and field throws coach Robby Spexarth made the drive to Cessna Stadium to watch Price compete before his own high school throwers compete in a track and field meet in Goddard on Friday.
“She’s one of two women to ever throw over 80 meters, so she’s a really big deal,” Spexarth said. “It’s just really exciting to see someone of that caliber come to Wichita.”
The college athletes from Wichita State, Oklahoma State and Southeast Missouri State also enjoyed interacting with Price.
“DeAnna is just a great ambassador for women’s hammer throw,” WSU track and field throws coach John Hetzendorf said. “She’s congenial and outgoing and just loves the hammer and is a great person to represent the community.”
WSU freshman Samantha Marx, an Andale native, was in awe competing in the same competition as someone she’s watched on television and on YouTube compete at the highest levels in the world.
Marx even set a personal-best on Friday with her throw of 50.01 meters (164 feet, 1 inch) to move into WSU’s top-10 list all-time for the women’s outdoor hammer. She even had her shoes signed by Price after the competition.
“It’s really nice when someone like that is so nice to talk to and just really cool,” Marx said. “She was so friendly and it was very inspiring to watch her throw up close. I said, ‘All I need is a 100-foot PR and I’ll be right there with you.’”
Several other athletes from the track and field teams in attendance made their way to the throwing fields to watch Price compete, then ask for a picture or autograph after she was done.
Price was more than happy to oblige and even took time to answer questions and give advice to the hammer throwers, both men and women, who gathered around.
“They’re so sweet and I loved talking with them and that’s one of the biggest reasons why I do these,” Price said. “I want to try to influence someone else to love who they are and to love what they do and to get excited. I really love the energy that they had today and how they were supporting everyone.”
Wichita was the second stop on Price’s return tour, as she is coming off what has been an emotional rollercoaster the last 12 months.
She felt like she was peaking last June when she launched her American-record throw of 80.31 meters (263 feet, 5 inches) at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. But she badly injured her ankle later in the competition.
“I thought I just sprained it at first, then I came home and had two weeks of training before we left for Tokyo and my foot just swelled up like a balloon,” Price said. “I couldn’t even put on a shoe anymore. So I had to start readjusting my goals from medaling at the Olympics to just making finals and then from just making finals to doing whatever I could.”
Even severely compromised, Price was still able to throw 73.09 meters to finish eighth at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A month later, she had full ankle reconstruction surgery and then another surgery to repair a torn hip labrum. She didn’t return to throwing until January.
After throwing 72.39 meters in her first meet back, Price was slightly disappointed her best throw in Wichita was only 71.25 meters (222 feet, 2 inches). But that disappointment was quickly washed away by the love and support she received from the college athletes and WSU community.
“It’s just super exciting to be back out here,” Price said. “Honestly, if I would have medaled at the Olympics, I would have retired. But now I’m going to see how deep I can dig and see if I can get it going again.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2022 at 12:42 PM.
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