Ratcliffe ’16 Wins NCAA Title, a First for Princeton Women’s Track and Field

Record-setting hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe ’16 made history June 11, winning her event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., and becoming the Princeton women’s program’s first individual national champion. Ratcliffe, a native of New Zealand, outdistanced the field by nearly seven feet with a winning toss of 219 feet, 5 inches (66.88 meters). Ratcliffe has set school records in the hammer throw (outdoor) and weight throw (indoor). She also holds two Ivy League Heptagonal titles in the hammer and was named to the Bowerman Trophy watch list. By winning the championship, Ratcliffe extended a notable streak for Princeton athletics: In 43 consecutive years, at least one Tiger team or individual has won a national title. Track and field winners in recent years include the men’s indoor distance medley relay team in 2013 and men’s steeplechase star Donn Cabral ’12 in 2012.