Gia Lewis-Smallwood sets a facility record of 62.09m and an A-qualifier for the WC in Moscow

Gia Lewis-Smallwood who competed last year at the London Olympic Games 2012 and became 8th in her qualification round with 61.44m sets a facility record of 62.09m during a meet at Ashford University on April 6th. 

As one can see below that article, Gia Lewis-Smallwood constantly increased her discus abilites. Her outdoor best from 2008 is 59.96m which ranked her no. 42 in the world and in 2009 she achieved for the first time in her career to break the 60m mark. 60.32m ranked her no. 37 in the world and since then she almost improved every year. Last year she threw a personal best of 63.97m which ranked her no. 16 in the World. If she would have been able to throw that distance at the Olympic Games she would have became 7th!

Already very early in the season Gia Lewis-Smallwood produced a great throw of 62.09 which was also a facility record at the Ashford University meet. With windy and somewhat cold conditions Gia’s series included 56.24m 62.09m 54.31m 55.96m 52.14m 56.01m. The closest competitor to her threw 41.58m. Even though it was an NAIA college competition, other Division 1 schools felt pushed and even the men felt somewhat pressured to perform at high levels!

Results:
2012: 8th in qualifying round of Olympic Games (61.44m/201-7); 6th at Olympic Trials (58.78m/192-10); 5th at Pre Classic (61.77m/202-8);1st at Tucson Elite Classic (61.69m/202-4);3rd at Wailuku Challenge (63.97m/209-10); 1st at Missouri Relays (57.94m/190-1);
2011: 9th in Group “A” at World Outdoors (59.49m/195-2); 3rd at USA Outdoors (60.53m/198-7); 2nd at Maui Altius Throwdown (62.26m/204-3); 4th at Shanghai (60.64m/198-11).
2010: 2nd at USA Outdoors (62.18m/204-00); 1st Tucson Elite (62.75m/205-10).
2009: 6th at USA Outdoors (58.74m/192-08).
2008: Competed at Olympic Trials (no mark).

USA/World Rankings and Personal Bests:
2012: Outdoor bests – discus, 63.97m/209-10 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 16 in the world, ranked No. 3 in the USA by T&FN)
2011: Outdoor bests – discus, 62.26m/204-3 (No. 5 in the USA, No. 25 in the world, ranked No. 3 in the USA by T&FN)
2010: Outdoor bests – discus, 62.75m/205-10 (No. 2 in the USA, No. 14 in the world, ranked No. 3 in the USA by T&FN)
2009: Outdoor bests – discus, 60.32m/197-10 (No. 6 in the USA by T&FN, No. 37 in the world)
2008: Outdoor bests – discus, 59.96m/196-8 (No. 7 in the USA, No. 42 in the world)