Fifteen inches came between Emily, NCAA finals

Erin, competed in the second flight, throwing 162-10 feet (49.65 meters) on her first attempt and then fouled on her second throw. Her third and final throw traveled 165-0.

When both flights were completed, Emily and Erin were not among the top nine throwers to advance to the finals. Emily placed 10th, finishing just .40 meters (about 15 inches) behind ninth-place Skylar White of Baylor.

Jeneva McCall, of Southern Illinois, won the discus title with a throw of 180-4.

“It's obviously really frustrating for me,” said Emily, who placed ninth at the NCAA Championships last year and 14th as a freshman. “I threw in the first flight and there was rain and water. The second flight, it was completely dry. Technically, the second flight had an advantage over the first flight. If I was in that second flight, I would have been better.

“Rain is a lot harder to throw in than dry conditions, so it was a challenge. And the wind was the exact opposite than where you want it to be. We had bad wind on the day we threw. It wasn't ideal conditions and I just didn't show up to play in the rain. That's something I'm working on. I am a smaller thrower, so I have to work harder than other people. It's a work in progress and I have to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.”

Emily, 21, who plans to become an architect, was seeded sixth heading into the NCAA Championships. She said her 10th-place finish will make her work that much harder in 2011.

“I knew I was capable of more than that,” she said. “I was pretty disappointed in myself. I'm definitely using it as motivator for next year. I'm ready for the season to start next year and it hasn't even ended this year. I'm excited for next season and I'm going to use this as an inspiration to do better next time.”

Emily's next discus competition is June 27 at the USA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I would love to make finals there,” she said. “There's a lot more competition there because the pros are there. I just want to go out and have a good competition.”

Emily and Erin, who finished 12th, were the only two members of Michigan's women's track and field team to qualify for this year's NCAA Championships.

“I had been to Eugene before, for Junior Nationals, so I was really happy to go back,” Erin said. “It was different than other meets because it was the NCAAs and I had never experienced that before. There was a lot of good competition and it was a good experience. The more experience I get, the better I'll be.”

Erin said the weather conditions were difficult to deal with in Oregon.

“The wind was not the greatest,” she said. “It was coming straight out the back of the ring. You want it to be a headwind, to make (the discus) go farther. It was a little bit cool and it rained for the first flight. We had a downpour during warmups, and that does have an effect on your performance because it is slippery.

“I'm a smaller discus thrower, so I have to focus on my technique. If my technique is off, it makes a difference. Somebody who's bigger and stronger, when they throw, if their technique is off it won't affect them as much. They have more power and strength behind it.”

Erin, who is majoring in sports management, said she “wasn't very happy” with her performance.

“I know I could have performed better,” she said. “Placing 12th isn't that bad for a freshman, but I know I could have done better. It was a good learning experience and good motivation.”

Erin will compete in the Junior Nationals on June 25 in Des Moines.

“I want to get in the top two,” she said, “because the top two make the Worlds.”