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AUSTIN, Texas — University of Iowa junior Laulauga Tausaga is the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Discus Champion after setting the Hawkeyes’ school record, earning first team All-America honors, and leading the Hawkeyes to an NCAA top-25 finish, on Saturday.
The Spring Valley, California, native threw 63.26 meters (207-6) on her second throw of the event and held the competition, claiming the first outdoor national title by a Hawkeye since Nan Doak won the 10,000 meters in 1985. Both ladies won their titles in Austin, Texas.
“I’m so excited for Laulauga winning Iowa women’s first NCAA Outdoor Championship in 34 years,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “I’m very proud of her and [Assistant] Coach [Eric] Werskey for this amazing accomplishment. They had an unbelievable year from indoors all the way to the outdoor championships. She’s an amazing competitor and showed today why she’s one of the best throwers in the NCAA.”
Tausaga is only the fourth Iowa female to win an NCAA Championship, the 14th, overall, champion in Iowa track and field history, and the first Hawkeye to win a national title in a throwing event. Her throw also marks her as the 10th best performer in NCAA history.
The final two Hawkeyes to compete on day four of the NCAA Championships were senior Tria Simmons and junior Jenny Kimbro, earning All-America honorable mention for finishing 17th and 23rd, respectively. Simmons earned a total 5,479 points, and Kimbro earned 5,023 points.
The Hawkeyes have concluded the 2019 season, but the latest updates on Iowa track and field are available on hawkeyesports.com.
