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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Barnett finishes 16th in Olympic discus
8/15/2016 8:32:00 PM | Track and Field
RIO DE JANEIRO — Grand Canyon junior Tarasue Barnett placed 16th overall in the qualifying rounds of the Olympic women's discus at Olympic Stadium in Rio on Monday night.
Competing in her first Olympics for her home country of Jamaica, Barnett recorded a best mark of 58.09 meters on her third and final attempt of competition. The top 12 marks qualifed for the finals of the event. Barnett's mark ranked as the top throw among all NCAA competitors.
"My experience at the Rio 2016 Olympics games was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life" Barnett said. "To be one of the world's best athletes is a feeling that is unexplainable. Walking into the discus ring, wearing my country's national gear, knowing that my entire country and other people were watching, thrilled my heart. I am grateful for this experience as not many athletes get to go to the Olympics. This was my dream as a little girl and now I can finally say I am an Olympian."
"I am very proud of Tarasue and her performance at her first Olympic Games," GCU head coach Tom Flood said. "She represented both her country, Jamaica, and GCU very well."
Barnett was the first GCU track & field student-athlete to compete in the Olympics in program history. Joined in Rio by Flood and assistant throwers coach Joe Riccio, Barnett overcame weather delays .
"The weather conditions were not ideal with the rain and understandably she was very nervous on her first throw but eventually took a deep breath, relaxed a bit and had a good final throw," Flood added. "She finished 16th in the world and had the top-collegiate performance in the competition."
The Olympic journey began for Barnett after she threw a personal best and the nation's third-best mark of 61.28m at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, California. Barnett's incredible year included being named 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field West Region Field Athlete of the Year. Barnett helped lead the Lopes to both WAC Women's Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2016, capturing individual conference titles indoor and outdoor in the shot put and outdoors in the discus.
"It was the end of an incredible season and the best thing is that she and Coach Riccio are just getting started," Flood said of Barnett's succesful first season at GCU. "She has a very bright future ahead of her."
Competing in her first Olympics for her home country of Jamaica, Barnett recorded a best mark of 58.09 meters on her third and final attempt of competition. The top 12 marks qualifed for the finals of the event. Barnett's mark ranked as the top throw among all NCAA competitors.
"My experience at the Rio 2016 Olympics games was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life" Barnett said. "To be one of the world's best athletes is a feeling that is unexplainable. Walking into the discus ring, wearing my country's national gear, knowing that my entire country and other people were watching, thrilled my heart. I am grateful for this experience as not many athletes get to go to the Olympics. This was my dream as a little girl and now I can finally say I am an Olympian."
"I am very proud of Tarasue and her performance at her first Olympic Games," GCU head coach Tom Flood said. "She represented both her country, Jamaica, and GCU very well."
Barnett was the first GCU track & field student-athlete to compete in the Olympics in program history. Joined in Rio by Flood and assistant throwers coach Joe Riccio, Barnett overcame weather delays .
"The weather conditions were not ideal with the rain and understandably she was very nervous on her first throw but eventually took a deep breath, relaxed a bit and had a good final throw," Flood added. "She finished 16th in the world and had the top-collegiate performance in the competition."
The Olympic journey began for Barnett after she threw a personal best and the nation's third-best mark of 61.28m at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, California. Barnett's incredible year included being named 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field West Region Field Athlete of the Year. Barnett helped lead the Lopes to both WAC Women's Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2016, capturing individual conference titles indoor and outdoor in the shot put and outdoors in the discus.
"It was the end of an incredible season and the best thing is that she and Coach Riccio are just getting started," Flood said of Barnett's succesful first season at GCU. "She has a very bright future ahead of her."
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