Kraychir Family Throws
Press Release
February 26, 2011
Kraychir Wins California High School State Indoor Championship
Fresno, California - In a track meet with a great many location and scheduling problems, Desert Hot Spring High School senior Katie Kraychir won her second straight indoor title; an event she won in 2010 with a throw of 60’1/2”.
Just days before the weight throw was scheduled to take place in an indoor horse arena on the Fresno State University campus, meet organizers were notified that the event could not take place because of an unscheduled event. With little time, meet organizers decided to hold the event outside in a dirt parking lot next to a busy street. Yet, they had a major problem, an unexpected cold front brought in 3-4 inches of rain, and cold winds, which hit the night before.
The weight throw was originally scheduled for 6:00 pm, but moved up to 4:30 pm the day before and when Kraychir arrived at the throws site at 3:04 pm, the high school girls event had already started. Apparently, meet organizers again changed the schedule without proper notice; meaning nothing was mentioned online or when Kraychir signed in and weighed her implement in at 10:00 am in the morning.
The judges mentioned there was a great deal of confusion and had moved up the scheduled time because it was about to rain; and was told in advance to allow throwers who showed up late an opportunity to take four throws, not six, which is normal in a state competition.
With this in mind, Kraychir was given about 15 minutes to get ready, and when the regular competition was completed she would be given her four efforts. Taking just two warm up throws, she could not fully warm her body because of the 40 plus degree outdoor weather. She threw 56’3” on her first effort, followed by 59’6”, 58’11” and 60’00” on her last throw.
Here are the final results:
Finals
1. Katie Kraychir SR Desert Hot Sp 60-00.00
2. Haether Vermillion SR Redwood 48-06.00
3. Dorenne Ordaz JR Francisco Bravo 44-00.50
4. Lindsay McKee JR Santa Teresa 42-03.00
5. Lisette Mendivil SR Redwood 39-11.00
6. Nella Ibrama SO Logan 38-05.50
7. Cara McClain Santa Teresa 36-05.50
8. Jayme Gonzalez JR Santa Teresa 32-08.00
Press Release
February 13, 2011
APU Track & Field and Katie Kraychir make it Official
Desert Hot Springs, California – Desert Hot Springs High School senior Katie Kraychir signed her Letter of Intent to Azusa Pacific University (APU) today, which obligated her and the university to a student-athlete commitment starting in the fall of 2011.
At her signing party today, Kraychir said, “I have always wanted to attend Azusa Pacific; so I contacted Coach Mike Barnett this past summer to ask if he would be interested in me attending. After several discussions with my family and Barnett we were all able to make my dream come true.”
Kraychir is currently California state girls’ high school weight throw record holder, with a toss of 60’1/2”; a throw she set at the California State High School Indoor Championships in Fresno in 2010. So far this season, she has thrown 60’3”, which ranks her first in the state and fourth in the nation respectively.
Her coach and father, Hank Kraychir, said of his daughter’s plans to attend APU, “The Kraychir family has always had a-love-affection for the university. As so many informed people already know, Azusa takes a balanced approach to a student-athlete’s future development, which starts with their spiritual growth, followed by a student’s academic and athletic enrichment. The family could not be happier with the prospect of Katie being a cougar student-athlete after she graduates from high school and personally working with former Olympian and current head women’s coach Barnett.”
Kraychir has two more indoor track meets before starting her outdoor hammer training; her next meet will be at Azusa Pacific University this coming Saturday, followed by the California State Indoor High School Championship in Fresno the following weekend.
Katie Kraychir signing her official "Letter of Intent" to attend Azusa Pacific University
with Debbie (mom) and Hank (dad) Kraychir on her right and left respectively
Press Release
January 28, 2011
New Personal Best for Kraychir in Opener
Azusa, California – In her first track meet of the 2010 indoor season, High School senior Katie Kraychir unleashed a new personal best of 60’3” with the 20 pound weight throw at Azusa Pacific University today.
Katie Kraychir with her current coach and father, Hank Kraychir (on her right side),
and her new coach next season, APU's head women's coach Mike Barnett (on her left side)
Press Release
April 24, 2010
Kraychir PR’s in a Frustrated Competition
Mesa, Arizona – High School senior Casey Kraychir performed a personal best of 194’11” on her fifth hammer throw after starting out poorly on her first four efforts. Her opening effort was a modest 172’, followed by a 177’ throw and two fouls in the mid to upper 180’ range. Kraychir’s frustration became apparent just before she entered the ring for her fifth attempt, which she infuriatingly unleashed, resulting in a new personal best. And her last throw landed near 190’.
Kraychir intended to throw the 12 pound ball in another flight, but soon realized she had brought the wrong hammer; so she quickly decided to throw the 4K hammer again. She did not throw better than she had done before, but, instead put on a notable performance by hammering the ball in the mid to upper 180s on her first five attempts; with her sixth throw being a notable foul. Considering the fact she was incredibly tired, she used the opportunity to train for several big competitions coming up in the next two months.
Press Release
April 17, 2010
Casey Kraychir Fouls Big But Comes Back With Spectacular 12 Pound Effort
Walnut, California – Desert Hot Springs High School senior Casey Kraychir opened up her 2010 season at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays today with several notable fouled throws in the mid to upper 190’s, but had to settle for a modest 187’4” throw. She explained, “I was not sitting under the 4k ball and was blowing out of my positions, which forced me to stand too tall on my third turn resulting in numerous fouls.”
Nevertheless, immediately following the regular competition, a second competition was conducted for athletes who wanted to throw international weighted implements, like 3k for girls and 6k for boys; and with prior permission granted, Kraychir was able to throw the boys high school 12 pound ball, which she regularly throws in practice.
With the 12 pound ball, Kraychir wowed everyone in attendance with her spectator effort of 156’9”, which would rank her 31st on the high school boys national list; if she was a high school boy. Kraychir explained her 12 pound effort, “I like the heavier ball because it teaches and reminds me to sit under the ball. I really think when I get under the 4k like I do with the 12 pound ball I should hit a big throw.”
Of interest, her earlier modest 187’4” throw with the 4k hammer is still close to her personal best of 191’9”, which she threw back in January at an All-Comers meet during the winter season.
Here are the results from the co-ed hammer events:
MEN 12 Pound Hammer
Vincent Ziraldo ( ) "Unattached" 120' 37.67m 123' 7" 3rd
Dan Hilbert (12) "Unattached" 175' 45.47m 149' 2" 2nd
Brad Bolton (11) "Unattached" 225' 65.74m 215' 8" 1st
WOMEN 4K Hammer
Karleh Wilson ( ) "Unattached" 80' 20.07m 65' 10"
Jaycee Olson (12) "Unattached" 105' 31.13m 102' 1"
Molly McCullough (9) "Unattached" 120' 35.40m 116' 1"
Doriene Ordaz (10) "Unattached" 122' 37.40m 122' 8"
Jessica Imani (11) "Unattached" 144' 44.15m 144' 10" 2nd
Michelle Poet (12) "Unattached" 145' 41.65m 136' 7" 3rd
Casey Kraychir (12) "Unattached" 192' 57.10m 187' 4" 1st
2nd Competition -- "Different Weight" (Boys 6kg…Girls Wts were Listed)
Dan Hilbert (12) "Unattached" 6kg 42.28m 138' 8"
Brad Bolton (11) "Unattached" 6kg 59.83m 196' 3"
Molly McCullough (9) "Unattached" 3kg 41.31m 135' 6"
Doriene Ordaz (10) "Unattached" 12lb 28.35m 93' 0"
Michelle Poet (12) "Unattached" 12lb 35.29m 115' 9"
Jessica Imani (11) "Unattached" 12lb 36.22m 118' 10"
Casey Kraychir (12) "Unattached" 12lb 47.79m 156' 9"
Press Release
February 6, 2010
Katie Kraychir Misses Record by 9”
The Save Mart Center, Fresno, California – In the Inaugural California State High School Indoor Championship today, Desert Hot Springs High School junior Katie Kraychir wowed the crowd with a throw of 60’1.5”, thereby winning the girls 20 pound weight throw competition and setting a new state record in the process.
Kraychir threw a modest 52’9.25” on her opening effort, followed by her winning throw of 60’1.50". Knowing well she could get the national junior class record of 60’10.5”, on her third effort she went into gamble mode, which went well past 61’, just out of the right sector line. With only one throw left, she slapped herself a couple of times on her thighs and legs, something that certainly pleased the crowd in the grandstands. Upon entering the ring, the entire stadium became quiet, all only wanting her to bust an even bigger throw than she had already done. Her attempt looked precise and by the end of her third turn, everything looked good, but the pressure applied to the ball was too great and the ball slipped out of her fingers, falling in the right sector, just inches from the sector line. Her last throw was 57’3”, which still would have been a personal best if not for her second throw of 60’1.5”.
Top six throwers:
1. Katie Kraychir JR Desert Hot Springs 60’1.50”
2. Casey Kraychir SR Desert Hot Springs 54’5.50”
3. Jessica Imani JR Corona del Mar 43’7.25”
4. Meagan McKee SR San Jose 43’2”
5. Michelle Poet SR Tujunga 41’9.25”
6. Dorienne Ordaz SO Los Angeles 40’9.00”
Katie’s older sister, Casey Kraychir, who is a senior at Desert Hot Springs High School, took second in the competition with a throw of 54’5.5”. Casey, who is known as a hammer thrower, won the National Junior Hammer Title last season.
For her efforts, Katie Kraychir now holds the distinction of being the sixth thrower ever to have thrown over 60’ in the high school girls 20 pound weight throw; not bad for a high school junior.
1. Victoria Flowers 2008 Providence, RI 62'02.00"
2. Lauren Chambers 2009 Marietta, GA 61'07.50"
3. Maureen Griffen 1997 Pocatello, ID 60'10.50"
4. Kristen Michalski 2002 W. Warwick, RI 60'08.75"
5. M. Kurzdorfer 2010 Lancaster, NY 60’2”
6. Katie Kraychir 2010 Desert Ht. Spr. CA 60’1.5”
Press Release
June 26, 2009
Kraychir Wins National Junior Hammer Title
Eugene, Oregon – Twentynine Palms High School junior and VS Athletics Track Club team member Casey Kraychir won her first ever USATF National Junior hammer title today.
In one of the biggest upsets of the track and field season, Kraychir decisively defeated Lauren Chambers (Georgia high school senior), who has the second furthest high school girls hammer throw in American history, 201'6", and she also beat college freshman Victoria Flowers from the University of Connecticut, who had the second furthest throw in the nation, 195'4", going into the national championship hammer competition this year.
Kraychir credits her success today to having a critical battle plan for the event and staying with it throughout the competition. She said, "I needed to make it to the finals before I could fully attack any of my throws. I did OK on my first throw, but I was not sure I made the finals until I threw 172'3" on the third and last throw of the preliminary round, which put me into sixth place."
After the preliminary rounds, Kraychir came alive on her fourth throw, throwing 180'7" to take second place behind Michigan State freshman hammer thrower Elizabeth Rohl, who stood in first place with a throw of 180'10".
On her fifth throw of the competition, Kraychir matched Rohl's effort of 180'10", only to watch as the college freshman responded with another big throw of 183'11" to retake her previous lead.
Going into the final round of the competition, Kraychir, in climactic form, threw an amazing 187'9" to take the lead for the first time during the spectacular competition. However, Rohl had one more throw left, and with several hundred hammer fans watching, she made a fearless, but failed, effort to retake the winning throw from Kraychir, who only moments earlier had shocked the crowd with her winning effort.
And suitably, the crowd stood and clapped appreciatively for the two girls, who fought so well in the final rounds of the foremost hammer competition of the 2009 track and field season.
Here are the top 8 throwers (USATF.com),
Finals
1. Casey Kraychir VS Athletics 187-09
2. Elizabeth Rohl unattached 183-11
3. Lauren Chambers Throw 1 Deep 180-01
4. Victoria Flowers Connecticut 180-01
5. Patrice Gates Throw 1 Deep 179-00
6. J'Quyra Moncur-Blue Throw 1 Deep 170-02
7. Amanda Bingson U N L V 170-00
8. Jacquelyne Leffler Kansas State 167-09
Twentynine Palms High School sophomore Katie Kraychir, Casey's younger sister, also competed in the hammer competition, but did not make the finals; however, her youthful appearance did not go unnoticed, where she was credited for being the youngest competitor in the hammer competition. The USATF Junior National competition allows girls up through the age of 19, with Katie being 16 and Casey being 18 years old.Both Casey and Katie will again be eligible for the competition next year.
With her win, Kraychir made the U.S. Junior Track and Field Team, where she will represent the United States in the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, which will be held at Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on July 31st - August 2nd.
And finally, Casey and Katie Kraychir would like to thank VS Athletics Track Club (Directed by Skip Stolley) and the USATF youth hammer development program (Directed by Hal Connolly) for their generous financial support throughout the year. Because the hammer is not thrown in California high schools, these two organizations have supported both girls development for several years now, thereby proving the event can be done successfully and safely, even at an early age, thereby furthering the cause of youth and women's hammer development in the United States.
Press Release
June 20, 2009
Over 180' For The Third Straight Time
Mesa, Arizona – Casey Kraychir backed up her last two hammer competitions with another incredible throw of 180'8" (55.07m) at the Grand Canyon State Games today.
On May 31, Casey threw a new junior class national record throw of 190'3" and the following weekend, June 3, she backed it up with a throw of 184'9". All total, Casey has averaged about 185'2.5" in her last three competitions.
This consistency will certainly be needed when she meets Lauren Chambers from Georgia, who has the nations leading high school girls throw of 201'6", in the National Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon this coming Friday.
Here is a list of the top five girls high school hammer throwers as of June 18, 2009 (Hshammer.com),
Lauren Chambers SR. Kell, Marietta, GA 201'06"
Casey Kraychir JR. Twentynine Palms, CA 190'03"
Katie Kraychir SO. Twentynine Palms, CA 176'08"
Patrice Gates JR. Villa Rica, GA 176'00"
Jazmin Miller SR. Hiram, GA 172'02"
And as of June 20, 2009, the following six throwers were seated in the USATF National Junior Track and Field hammer competition (USATF.com),
Lauren Chambers Throw 1 Deep 201'6"
Casey Kraychir VS Athletics Track Club 190'3"
Amanda Bingson University of Nevada, LV 181'1"
Katie Kraychir VS Athletics Track Club 176'8"
Jacquelyne Leffler Kansas State University 175'8"
La Quoya Kelly University of Tennessee 175'1"
As such, Casey is currently ranked 2nd nationally behind Lauren Chambers in both the high school rankings and the USATF national rankings going into one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.Casey, the high school junior from Twentynine Palms High School, California will try her best against high school senior Chambers from Georgia, who has more experience, is a year older, and has a personal best throw of about 11 feet further than the aspiring hammer thrower.
Furthermore, after her incredible effort two weeks ago at the Southern California USATF Championships at Mt. Sac, Katie Kraychir backed up her new personal best throw of 176'8" with a modest throw of 165'6" in the Grand Canyon State Games hammer competition. As one of this nations youngest hammer competitors, Twentynine Palms High School sophomore, Katie, is now ranked third nationally in high school and fourth going into the USATF National Junior Track and Field hammer competition this coming Friday.
More news to follow.
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