(Updated, Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.) Former Wellington student Chloe Wilson wins the national championship in the hammer throw
Former Wellington High School student Chloe Wilson is pictured in middle. (Courtesy photo).
by Rama Peroo, Cowley College specialist — Chloe Wilson, who grew up just down the road from Cowley College in Wellington, came to Cowley with very little throwing experience. Now, two years later, she is getting ready to leave the school as a national champion. With Wilson placing first in the hammer throw she helped the Lady Tigers place 10th at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships held in Hutchinson. The Tiger men finished in 22nd place out of 35 teams at the national meet.
Wilson was a student at Wellington High School through her sophomore year. She would move to Joplin, Mo. and eventually graduate from Baxter Springs. She is the daughter of Anna Wilson, formerly of Wellington.
Cowley head coach Cameron Rieth was thrilled by the performance of Wilson in the hammer.
“We saw the potential in practice, but she really stepped up when the bright lights were shining,” Rieth said.
Wilson became a national champion despite literally picking up a hammer for the first time in a little over a year.
“She walked into Cowley to enroll and the wife of the coach asked her if she would like a scholarship to throw,” Anna said. “They told her she looked like she had the build of a thrower. So, of course, she said yes.”
Wilson had never done any kind of throwing prior to starting at Cowley. When in high school she played basketball and volleyball.
Wilson, who has graduated from Cowley this spring, wants to be a pilot. She wants to throw the hammer, but none of those schools have an aviation program.
“If she gets an offer from a school that has aviation, then yes, she will throw at a four-year school,” Anna said. “If not, then no.”
The Lady Tigers finished just one point behind Hinds Community College for ninth place as they ended the meet with 28 team points.
“The caliber of the national meet just keeps getting better and better,” Rieth said. “The goal was to finish in the top-10 and we hope to build on that.”
Along with Wilson, Cowley throwers Kayla McClellan and Sarah Robinson were also named All-Americans in the hammer throw. McClellan also earned All-American honors in the discus, while Kyra Choice garnered All-American honors in the shot put. Not to be outdone, freshman Arantxa Cortez placed fourth and earned All-American status in the pole vault.
“The future is bright with Arantxa,” Rieth said. “We look forward to her competing for a national title next season.”
