University of New Hampshire Athletics
UNH Alum Michael Shanahan Finishes Fifth in Hammer Throw Finals at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
6/20/2021 8:32:00 PM | General, Men's Track & Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Michael Shanahan, a 2017 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, finished in fifth place in the hammer throw finals Sunday at the track & field U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field.
Shanahan recorded his best throw of 242-feet, zero inches of the finals in Round 5. Rudy Winkler (263-5), Daniel Haugh (260-5), Alex Young (256-11) and Conor McCullough (244-10) placed ahead of Shanahan. The Olympic standard is 254-3.
The hammer finals began with three rounds for all 12 entrants, and the top eight advanced to the final three rounds. Throwing out of the eighth position, Shanahan fouled in Round 1 and then recorded a mark of 236-7 in Round 2 to move into seventh place, just one inch behind sixth. Shanahan climbed into sixth place with a throw of 238-10 in Round 3.
Shanahan, throwing in the third position for the last three rounds, threw the hammer a distance of 240-4 in Round 4 to climb into fifth place. He improved that mark with a 242-0 in Round 5 to hold in fifth place. Shanahan fouled on his final throw of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – Schedule
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – Results
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – TV Schedule
Shanahan advanced into the finals with the sixth-best effort in Friday's first round. Throwing out of the 12th position in the second flight, Shanahan recorded his top mark of 239-1 on the last of three throws. Click here to read the recap.
Shanahan holds a pair of UNH records and he was a two-time All-American. His outdoor hammer throw of 227-5 is best in New Hampshire history. He also holds the indoor weight throw benchmark of 73-10.5.
Shanahan graduated in 2017 and competed as a grad student in the 2017-18 track seasons. He was named the Most Outstanding Men's Field Performer at the 2018 America East Indoor Championships and went on to earn a spot on the All-America First Team in the weight throw with a seventh-place finish at the NCAAs.
Overall, Shanahan was a five-time conference champion, three-time ECAC champion and three-time New England champion as a UNH Wildcat.
In the 2017-18 indoor season, Shanahan won the weight throw in all eight meets, including the America East, ECAC and New England championships, prior to the aforementioned All-America seventh-place effort at the NCAA Championships. His throw of 220-9 was an America East championship meet record.
Shanahan went on to record six first-place finishes – once again including the conference and New England meets – in the hammer throw in the 2018 outdoor track & field season. He capped his Wildcat career with a 13th-place finish at the NCAAs for a spot on the All-America Second Team.
Shanahan was named to the 2018 NCAA Division I Track & Field All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association following the conclusion of his UNH career. His other accolades included 2018 USTFCCCA Indoor Northeast Region Performer of the Year.
Shanahan recorded his best throw of 242-feet, zero inches of the finals in Round 5. Rudy Winkler (263-5), Daniel Haugh (260-5), Alex Young (256-11) and Conor McCullough (244-10) placed ahead of Shanahan. The Olympic standard is 254-3.
The hammer finals began with three rounds for all 12 entrants, and the top eight advanced to the final three rounds. Throwing out of the eighth position, Shanahan fouled in Round 1 and then recorded a mark of 236-7 in Round 2 to move into seventh place, just one inch behind sixth. Shanahan climbed into sixth place with a throw of 238-10 in Round 3.
Shanahan, throwing in the third position for the last three rounds, threw the hammer a distance of 240-4 in Round 4 to climb into fifth place. He improved that mark with a 242-0 in Round 5 to hold in fifth place. Shanahan fouled on his final throw of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – Schedule
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – Results
U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field – TV Schedule
Shanahan advanced into the finals with the sixth-best effort in Friday's first round. Throwing out of the 12th position in the second flight, Shanahan recorded his top mark of 239-1 on the last of three throws. Click here to read the recap.
Shanahan holds a pair of UNH records and he was a two-time All-American. His outdoor hammer throw of 227-5 is best in New Hampshire history. He also holds the indoor weight throw benchmark of 73-10.5.
Shanahan graduated in 2017 and competed as a grad student in the 2017-18 track seasons. He was named the Most Outstanding Men's Field Performer at the 2018 America East Indoor Championships and went on to earn a spot on the All-America First Team in the weight throw with a seventh-place finish at the NCAAs.
Overall, Shanahan was a five-time conference champion, three-time ECAC champion and three-time New England champion as a UNH Wildcat.
In the 2017-18 indoor season, Shanahan won the weight throw in all eight meets, including the America East, ECAC and New England championships, prior to the aforementioned All-America seventh-place effort at the NCAA Championships. His throw of 220-9 was an America East championship meet record.
Shanahan went on to record six first-place finishes – once again including the conference and New England meets – in the hammer throw in the 2018 outdoor track & field season. He capped his Wildcat career with a 13th-place finish at the NCAAs for a spot on the All-America Second Team.
Shanahan was named to the 2018 NCAA Division I Track & Field All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association following the conclusion of his UNH career. His other accolades included 2018 USTFCCCA Indoor Northeast Region Performer of the Year.
Sunday, October 18
Saturday, October 17
Friday, October 16
Thursday, October 15