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July 10, 2008

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Reigning US junior shot put champion and University of Louisville thrower Chinwe Okoro finished 10th overall in the women's shot put final at the IAAF World Junior Championships on Wednesday in Poland.

A native of Russell, Ky., Okoro had a throw of 49 feet, 9.75 inches (15.18m) on her first of three attempts. Okoro advanced to Wednesday's final after a 10th-place finish in Tuesday's preliminary round with a throw of 50-06.75. Chile's Natalia Duco won the shot put title with a throw of 56-06.50 (17.23m).

Okoro, who completed her freshman season at U of L in May at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., earned her spot on Team USA for the World Junior Championships after winning the women's shot put at the USA Junior Championships on June 22 in Columbus, Ohio. She had a personal best throw of 53 feet, 0.25 inches (16.06m) to defeat a field of 24 other throwers and become U of L's first junior national champion since Cory Thorne's 3,000m steeplechase title in 2006.

Up next, the Cards' Andre Black will represent Team USA at the 2008 NACAC Under 23 Championships on July 18-20 in Toluca, Mexico. The meet will feature athletes from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Louisville's summer of international events will conclude with head coach Ron Mann serving as the men's middle distance coach for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8-24.