Two of Jessica Cosby’s top competitors in the hammer throw
and the shot put left the University of Florida women’s track
and field team last week, pushing the UCLA senior into the thick of
the national title picture in both events.
Candice Scott, the defending NCAA champion in the hammer throw,
and Liz Wanless, the nation’s top-ranked collegiate shot
putter, have left the Gator program to focus on training for the
World Championships in August, a spokesman for the Florida athletic
department confirmed on Tuesday.
Their departure leaves Cosby, a former national champion in the
shot put and the NCAA runner-up in the hammer throw last season,
with a realistic chance to win national titles in both events
““ a feat no female thrower has ever accomplished.
“It’s an unfortunate situation, but it doesn’t
really change my focus as far as NCAAs,” Cosby said.
“I’m still going in with the same mindset to try to win
both. And there’s also time for them to come back if they
choose to do so. Until they don’t compete at the East
Regionals, I have to think there’s a chance they might be
there.”
Apparently it’s a slim chance. Florida women’s coach
Tom Jones plans to ask both Scott and Wanless to rejoin the team in
time for this weekend’s Southeastern Conference
Championships, but the athletic department spokesman said it was
very unlikely either would return.
Neither thrower was available for comment Tuesday.
Their apparent absence seems to be a lucky break for Cosby and
the rest of the nation’s top collegiate throwers because it
leaves both events without a clear favorite. Miami’s Kim
Barrett, another former Florida thrower, owns the nation’s
top mark in the shot put at 59 feet, 8.25 inches. And Colorado
State’s Loree Smith tops the national chart in the hammer
throw with a mark of 220 feet, 8 inches.
But Cosby is in striking distance in both events, having thrown
57 feet, 10.25 inches in the shot put and 217 feet, 5 inches in the
hammer ““ the second and fourth best marks in the nation
respectively.
“Winning both has been my focus since the beginning of the
season,” Cosby said. “If the (two Florida throwers)
aren’t there, it might make it easier for me, but it’s
really all speculation. There’s always other people that you
don’t really count on that step up.”
Florida’s loss could also be UCLA’s gain in the team
competition at NCAAs. The Gators, tied for second with the Bruins
in the national rankings last week, fell all the way to No. 9 this
week once Scott’s and Wanless’ potential points were
subtracted.
Cosby, like the rest of her teammates, doesn’t put much
stock in UCLA’s No. 2 national ranking, but she is confident
that the Bruins can defend their national title.
And this year, she is also confident that she can pull off the
historic double, regardless of who her top competitors are.
“Physically I have to be well-rested and prepared going
into nationals because being in that situation can be a lot of
stress if you’re not ready,” Cosby said. “But the
day of competition is more mental. I’ll have to stay focused
after the hammer and know that my day isn’t finished until
after the sixth throw in the shot put.”