Former Pickerington North standout Annette Echikunwoke made Olympic history Tuesday in the hammer throw in Paris.
A 2014 graduate of North, Echikunwoke became the first U.S. female athlete to win a medal in the event, earning the silver with a top effort of 75.48 meters.
It was a North American sweep for the top two honors as Canada’s Camryn Rogers won gold (76.97).
Echikunwoke qualified for the Olympics by finishing first at the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 23 in Eugene, Oregon.
Representing Nigeria in 2020, Echikunwoke qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo but was disqualified. She was among a group of Nigerian athletes who missed doping screenings due to an administrative error .
At North, Echikunwoke finished third in the shot put (42 feet, 4 ½ inches) in the Division I state meet in 2014.
In 2017, she won the NCAA title in the hammer throw for the University of Cincinnati, the program’s first national championship.
Watching from his home Tuesday with family and friends, North track and field coach Dave Spring said Echikunwoke’s journey to the Olympics thrilled the Pickerington community.