The first one proved to be the winner. The last one was downright amazing.
Among his endless list of accolades, Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan is now an NCAA champion.
The Woonsocket High alum and and University of Mississippi sophomore was at his best on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships, capturing gold in the shot with a huge PR and facility record of 69 feet, 0.75 inches inside the TRACK at new balance. That effort came after opening his series with a previous best of 67-6, a distance that would have also landed Robinson on top of the podium.
The Ole Miss shot-putter admitted he was a little more motivation for the competition after finishing fifth in the weight throw two days earlier, an event he felt he should have placed at least second.
“Coming in today, I knew there was a lot on my shoulders,” he said. “I was more angry (from the weight throw). If I had won, I wouldn’t have been as angry. I came in today hungry. After the first throw, I threw 67, a big PR. It was a special opener. I have been looking to open up big all season, and just practicing opening up big and have been coming up short, a lot of 62- and 63-foot throws. Coming out with 67 (feet) really put it in on these guys. Coming out hot really set the mood for the meet.”
Robinson-O’Hagen never relinquished his lead. But on his fifth throw in the series, eventual runner-up Roje Stona came close to his rival with a toss of 67-2.25.
One of our state most -decorated athletes responded like he often has in his career by putting the final exclamation point on his victory with his 69-footer.
“Before the round even started, my coach already came up to me after my last throw in the (fifth) round and he said be prepared for a big throw,” Robinson-O’Hagan recalled. “He said you have to throw a big throw or they’re going to jump you. With something like that you have to prepare to be jumped and lose your spot, especially when it’s that close. You can’t just throw one throw and expect it to hold the whole meet. I was already prepared for a big throw and was anxious and nervous. When (Stona) had his throw, I was already ready to have a PR. It was just long-waited. Finally, I lined it up and it went big. I added another two feet into the throw. It’s a crazy throw.”
The final day of competition also included another RI athlete making the podium with Iowa State junior and St. Ray’s alum Darius Kipyego placing sixth in the 800m. Kipyego was timed in 1:47.99, his second sub 1:48 in as many days.
The Cyclones’ middle-distance specialist admitted he was hoping for a higher placement in a race that, like the prelims on Friday, was very physical.
“I am not to happy with the performance but it’s a great experience,” he said. “This is my first NCAAs here, to make the finals and just be able to place, I’m really happy. I wanted to go out there and win it. It was anybody’s game. You learn from every experience. Outdoor is going to be a lot different. There’s not too much more fighting, a lot more peaceful with not as much turns. We’ll get ready for outdoor and definitely make some moves.”
The race was won by Rivaldo Marshall of Iowa in 1:46.96, which means the top six were separated by 1.03 seconds. Kipyego already expected another physical 800m, one that often interferes with a runner’s rhythm in a race.
“Obviously when you start getting more comfortable and relaxed there is always something that is going around,” he said. “But again, that’s indoors, and that’s just the 800 when you got eight guys. You can’t really complain about that. You just got to make sure you get that position. I kind of fell a little behind, which I was trying to avoid. It happens. You just got to adapt to every race and the position that I’m in. It happens. I got sixth place. We’ll get back for more.”
