Julia Hopson takes second in nation at NCAA meet
Fredonia State junior Julia Hopson (Poughkeepsie/Arlington) finished second Friday in the women's 20-pound weight throw at the NCAA Division III Track and Field championships.
Hopson's best throw of the day was 17.16 meters, which converts to 56 feet, 3 3/4 inches. It came on her second of six throws in the competition, held at Ohio Northern University.
Carol Comp, a senior from University of St. Thomas, finished as national champion with a throw of 17.33 meters.
A two-time SUNYAC and ECAC champ in the event, Hopson was sixth in the same event at the 2007 NCAA meet. She entered this year's competetion as the No. 3 seed with a previous-best and SUNYAC record-throw of 17.41 meters.
Friday's second-place finish earned Hopson her second All-American honor in the event. She was attempting to become the first Fredonia State woman to win a national track and field championship. Instead, she became just the third Blue Devil woman to earn runner-up status. Jackie Blake (1986 indoor long jump) and Ginger Kinkaid (2001 indoor high jump) were the previous pair.
Hopson, in the photo at right, is flanked by Fredonia State head track and field coach Nolan Swanson, left, and assistant coach Liz Aldrich minutes after the awards presentation at the national meet.
