Former Bartlett High star and Alaska record-holder Jordan Clark captured his fourth consecutive NCAA Division I shot put championship on Friday at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
Although he hadn't fully recovered from a minor hand injury suffered early this season, Clarke, of Arizona State, dominated the competition at the Randal Tyson Track Center with a winning mark of 67 feet, 3¼ inches. That was well over a foot better than his closest competitor, Kole Weldon of Texas Tech, and near Clarke's season best.
Before Friday's victory, Clarke had captured the 2011 outdoor championship and swept the 2012 indoor and outdoor titles. Clarke now has a chance to make history, as a win at June's 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championship would make Clarke just the second person in NCAA history to win five consecutive shot put titles. Kansas' Karl Salb accomplished the feat across the 1969-70-71 seasons, winning six straight.
Clarke's victory gave the Arizona State more luster, too. The school has now won nine of the last 11 shot put championships (indoors and outdoors) that have been contested. Details can be found here.