Cal Alum Camryn Rogers Dominates to Win Gold in the Hammer at the Worlds

The 24-year-old had the five longest throws of the competition to secure the gold medal.

Camryn Rogers dealt with the world’s top hammer throwers the same way she did her competition during her career at Cal.

She dominated them.

The 24-year-old Canadian, a three-time NCAA champion at Cal through 2022, claimed the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Thursday, delivering the winning throw on her first attempt.

By the time she was done, Rogers had five throws in six attempts that were better than anything the rest of the field could muster.

She becomes the first Cal athlete to win a gold medal in the 40-year history of the World Championships and the first to do so in an individual event at either the Worlds or Olympics since pole vaulter Guinn Smith in 1948.

"It's almost hard to wrap my mind around everything that's happened. I think it's gonna hit me later on. What an incredible and magical night," Rogers told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Camryn Rogers, center, celebrates with DeAnna Price and Janet' Kassanavoid / Instagram

After her sixth and final throw, Rogers exchanged hugs with Americans Janee’ Kassanvoid and DeAnna Price, who took the silver and bronze medals to complete a North American sweep.

Then she found her ex-Cal teammate, Anna Purchase of England, for a tearful embrace. Purchase, who completed her collegiate eligibility this past spring, finished 11th.

And finally, Rogers dashed to the grandstands at Hungary’s National Athletics Centre, and celebrated with her long-time coach, Cal assistant Mohamad Saatara.

A year after winning silver at this same competition at Eugene, Oregon, Rogers became the first Canadian woman to win gold at the Worlds since since hurdler Perdita Felicien in 2003.

Rogers, who owns the top 11 marks in collegiate history, took charge from the start on Thursday. Her first throw sailed 253 feet, 4 inches (77.72 meters) and stood up as the winning mark.

She subsequently delivered throws of 252-10 (77.07), 251-9 (76.75), 251-7 (76.68) and 251-8 (76.72) — all of them better than Kassanavoid’s runner-up mark of 250-6 (76.36).

“I knew it after the third throw,” Cal head track and field coach Robyne Johnson said. “Her consistency was amazing.”

Price, the American-recordholder, was third at 247-5 (75.41).

Purchase’s top mark was 230-7 (70.29).

Only Rogers’ final attempt — when she already had clinched gold — was less than top-of-the-podium stuff.

“And then it was hugs,” Rogers said.

Her victory gave Canada a sweep of the hammer throw titles following a victory by Ethan Katzberg in the men's hammer on Saturday.

“Ethan really set the stage out there,” said Rogers. “I feel Canada is making its presence known all across the world. Being able to win this medal for Canada means the world to me.”

Cover photo of Camryn Rogers with her gold medal courtesy of Robyne Johnson

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo