Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Brohard
Ankle injury stalls Powell at NCAA Outdoor Championships
6/5/2019 1:47:00 PM | Track & Field
Senior decathlete withdraws after 100 meters
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The hope was the adrenaline of the moment would provide a lift. Five days of rehabilitation had helped the ankle of Colorado State senior decathlete Hunter Powell, but the first event of Wednesday's competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships would really let him know.
On a wet day at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium in Austin, Texas, Powell was affected from the start in the 100 meters, finishing in a time of 12.77 and limping noticeably at the end of the race. It was then he and assistant coach Ryan Baily knew he'd have to withdraw.
Powell, who won the Mountain West title, rolled his ankle in last Friday's practice while prepping for the pole vault. While the ailment improved gradually, it never hit full strength. While it was far from the ending the Fort Collins native had hoped for, Baily couldn't have been more impressed with the way Powell approached the setback.
"He wanted to go for it anyway. We gave it a go, and we just couldn't get it back," Bailey said. "I'm very proud of him. I would have expected nothing less from that kid. He's one of the toughest competitors and toughest athletes I know. If anybody could have made it work, it was him."
The Rams will have a busy day at the meet Thursday, starting with the women's 4x100 team of Marybeth Sant, Lauren Gale, Jessica Ozoude and Destinee Rocker (6:02 p.m.) Rocker comes back in the 100 hurdles (7:02 p.m.), with Tarynn Sieg in the women's shot put (8:10 p.m.).
The running events will be broadcast on ESPNU, starting at 6 p.m.; field events can be streamed on ESPN3.
On a wet day at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium in Austin, Texas, Powell was affected from the start in the 100 meters, finishing in a time of 12.77 and limping noticeably at the end of the race. It was then he and assistant coach Ryan Baily knew he'd have to withdraw.
Powell, who won the Mountain West title, rolled his ankle in last Friday's practice while prepping for the pole vault. While the ailment improved gradually, it never hit full strength. While it was far from the ending the Fort Collins native had hoped for, Baily couldn't have been more impressed with the way Powell approached the setback.
"He wanted to go for it anyway. We gave it a go, and we just couldn't get it back," Bailey said. "I'm very proud of him. I would have expected nothing less from that kid. He's one of the toughest competitors and toughest athletes I know. If anybody could have made it work, it was him."
The Rams will have a busy day at the meet Thursday, starting with the women's 4x100 team of Marybeth Sant, Lauren Gale, Jessica Ozoude and Destinee Rocker (6:02 p.m.) Rocker comes back in the 100 hurdles (7:02 p.m.), with Tarynn Sieg in the women's shot put (8:10 p.m.).
The running events will be broadcast on ESPNU, starting at 6 p.m.; field events can be streamed on ESPN3.
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