Results
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Manning Plater of Illinois track and field earned third place in the men's weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships on Thursday evening. His toss of 74-7 (22.73 m) on his fourth attempt gave him the bronze medal, the Illinois school record in the event and USTFCCCA First Team All-American Honors. The event was hosted by the University of Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
"What an incredible performance," Director of Track and Field Mike Turk commented on the night. "I think he warmed up pretty average and his first throw was average, he didn't feel great. The whole field had trouble getting into a flow. He was in good position and I felt like if he could just settle down he would have a good chance. His third throw he found the connection and from there on he was incredible."
After winning the weight throw event title at the Badger Icebreaker, Husker Quad, Hawkeye B1G Invite and the B1G Championships this season, Plater set his personal record tonight improving on his previous mark by 13 inches. His mark at the Badger Icebreaker put him into second place in school history, but now he moves into first place passing Davis Fraker's 73-10 in 2015.
"That was huge, once he got the big throw that solidified him in the final and in a good scoring position, I knew his focus was on the record," Turk added. "That was one of his focuses this year, to break the school record. To do it at the NCAA Championships was a lot of fun for him. It is gratifying when an athlete sets the bar really high the way Manning has."
Plater's third place finish is the highest individual Illini performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 2012 when Andrew Riley finished second in the 60 m dash. It is the highest national placement in the weight throw in Illinois school history. This is Plater's second All-American honor, after he was named a USTFCCCA All-American in the weight throw following the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Plater and the Illini will look towards the outdoor track season once a schedule is set into place. Details on a full outdoor schedule will be released soon.
"I'm really excited to move outside, it feels like forever since we have had an outdoor track meet," Turk said. "We are all excited, we are thankful for the indoor season but ready to get outside. Spring is here and we are ready to go."
Plater will compete in the hammer throw during the outdoor season, an event that he has had great success in as well. He finished in sixth place in the event at the Big Ten Championships in 2019 before the 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to COVID-19.
"All the uncertainties made this indoor season hard, from a technical standpoint," Coach Turk mentioned. "Manning is a natural hammer thrower, and his training for that is terrific. The whole team, especially the throwers are excited to get outside and Manning is leading the charge for that."
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