BOSTON – Anna Norgren Mahon withstood her competition and an off day to win her second straight women’s 20-pound weight throw Friday at the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Norgren Mahon fouled on her first throw at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, one of her three fouls on the day. She sat in fourth place after four rounds before popping off her winning mark of 22.85 meters/74 feet, 11.75 inches on her fifth attempt. The U.S. outdoor champion and American record holder in the hammer throw, Norgren Mahon took a philosophical approach to the competition beginning in the fifth round.

“I realized that the worst that could happen is I might not win,” said Norgren Mahon, “and that’s when I relaxed and tried to have some fun. I had a rough time. It wasn’t the greatest meet, but I pulled it out in the end.”

Jamine Moton, the 2002 NCAA hammer throw champion, finished second with a throw of 21.48m/70-5.75. Six-time U.S. Indoor champion Dawn Ellerbe was a centimeter back at 21.4/70-5.25.

A.G. Kruger, a 2001 graduate of Morningside College, won his first U.S. title Friday in the men’s 35-pound weight throw with a mark of 22.25m/73-00. Defending champion John McEwen was second at 21.86m/71-8.75, and Thomas Freeman was third at 21.59m/70-10.

“I knew I could compete here,” said Kruger, who trains with Jud Logan at Ashland University in Ohio. “Form and style-wise I know I’m great with Jud, it was just mentally if I could come here and do it and I did, and I’m very happy about it.”

In preliminary rounds of the 400 meters, defending indoor champion Monique Hennagan turned in the fastest women’s time of the day (53.43), while Tyree Washington was the fastest men’s qualifier (46.27).

For complete results from the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, visit www.usatf.org. Results will be posted in real time throughout the weekend.

ATHLETE QUOTES

Anna Norgren Mahon, 1st, Women’s weight throw: “My warm-up felt really good and then I fouled on my first throw, which is always a bit of a mental game you have to play with yourself after you foul on your first throw, so I was just tentative in my second and third rounds. In my fourth round I just looked at it as a new meet where I could start over, and I fouled on that one. Then I realized that the worst that could happen is I might not win, and that’s when I relaxed and tried to have some fun. I had a rough time. It wasn’t the greatest meet, but I pulled it out in the end. I was hoping for a little bit further throw, but after my first four throws the win is good enough.”

Jamine Moton, 2nd, Women’s weight throw: “I felt pretty good coming into today. We’ve prepared all season for this very moment and we wanted to come up with some big throws. It was kinda slow in the beginning. I was hoping to get first, but I’ll take second…just for today. I’m competing with some of the best girls ever in this sport, so it’s a privilege just to be here. They did well and the intensity was very high, and you can’t ask for a better environment to compete in.”

A.G. Kruger, winner, Men’s 35lb. Weight throw: “It’s been a lot of fun training with Jud Logan. He’s taught me a lot and it’s really paid off now, so I can actually do it at the big meets. I knew I could compete here. It was just if mentally I could be ready. Form and style-wise I know I’m great with Jud, it was just mentally if I could come here and do it and I did, and I’m very happy about it. It’s great beating the defending champion (John McEwen). John had trained with Jud the last three or four years and now he’s training in Eugene (Ore.). He gave me a great battle for it.”

John McEwen, runner-up, Men’s 35lb. Weight throw: “I’ve had some injury issues this winter. I opened up in Seattle with like a 72-10 throw and then I pulled my bicep and that hurt my training a little bit. This is only my second competition of the year, so I haven’t really had the chance to get in the groove of competition. No excuses. A.G. did very well. If this is the worst thing that happens to me in my life, getting second at a USA Championship, I’m going to live a great life.”