BUDAPEST, Hungary – As Camryn Rogers' final throw soared through the air, the 24-year-old Canadian finally let herself celebrate as she bounced on her toes and pumped her arms in the air with a huge grin.
 
It didn't matter how far the hammer went. The competition was over, and Rogers had already won.
 
After the weight landed, Rogers clasped her hands over her mouth and walked over to the waiting arms of bronze medalist DeAnna Price, who lifted her entirely off the ground, before clasping a tearful Anna Purchase – her former Golden Bear teammate – in a tight, joyful embrace. It was both a triumph for Team Canada, which now has two hammer titles at the World Athletics Championships (fellow British Columbia native Ethan Katzberg won on the men's side), and for California track & field as Rogers became the program's first champion at this level. Rogers is also just the second Canadian woman ever to win any world title, and the first since Perdita Felicien's 100m hurdles victory in 2003.
 
"I knew it after the third throw," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson said. "Her consistency was amazing."
 
Rogers then headed to the stands to hug a waiting Johnson and assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, who has continued to oversee her training in her first professional season. A gold medal – HER gold medal – was gently placed around Rogers' neck. She lifted it closer to her face, a slight look of disbelief in her eyes, before wrapping her arms around Saatara again.
 
"It's almost hard to wrap my mind around everything that's happened," Rogers said. "I think it's going to hit me later on."
 
The winning throw, as it turned out, was her first. Perhaps for drama's sake, Rogers was tabbed as the final thrower on the start list – and lived up to her billing with a toss of 77.22m (253-4). A remarkably consistent series followed – 77.07m (252-10), 76.75m (251-9), 75.68m (248-3), 76.72m (251-8), 74.92m (245-9). That steadiness was on brand for Rogers, who never dipped below 76.12m (249-9) throughout her entire season.

"We wanted to establish ourselves early and keep the energy high," Saatara said. "I was expecting a big drive from the American ladies (Price and silver medalist Janee' Kassanavoid) - they're competitors and great throwers - so we wanted to make sure Camryn was able to respond. We never count anyone out until the final throw is taken and the dust settles."
 
For her part, Purchase finished 11th in the competition as just one of two British women to ever make the World Championships hammer final. After starting off with a foul into the net, Purchase's first legal throw sailed 68.82m (225-9) before crossing the 70-meter line on her final attempt of the competition with a mark of 70.29m (230-7).
 
"I couldn't be prouder of all the progress we've made this past year," she said.
 
World Athletics Championships – Hammer Throw Final

1. Camryn Rogers (Canada) – 77.22m (253-4)
2. Janee' Kassanavoid (USA) – 76.36m (250-6)
3. DeAnna Price (USA) – 75.41m (247-5)
4. Hanna Skydan (Azerbaijan) – 74.18m (243-4)
5. Silja Kosonen (Finland) – 73.89m (242-5)
6. Sara Fantini (Italy) – 73.85m (242-3)
7. Bianca Florentina Ghelber (Romania) – 73.70m (241-9)
8. Zheng Wang (China) – 72.14m (236-8)
9. Katrine Koch Jacobsen (Denmark) – 71.33m (234-0)
10. Jie Zhao (China) – 70.29m (230-7)
11. Anna Purchase (Great Britain) – 70.29m (230-7)
12. Malwina Kopron (Poland) - FOUL

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