DATE: Saturday, June 7, 1997                TAG: 9706070468

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

HAMMER THROWER BIDS TO NAIL DOWN NCAA TITLE

Tamika Powell did not grow up hoping to become a hammer throw champion.

But hey, who does? The hammer is an obscure event, particularly for women. It has been an NCAA championship event for only three years. Powell, a senior at George Mason University, will attempt to become the third women's national champion today at the NCAA meet in Bloomington, Ind.

For Powell, her success in the hammer throw is a bit surprising, and slightly amusing. Asked why she began throwing the hammer, Powell laughed.

``I had no choice,'' she said.

GMU track coach Norm Gordon requires all his throwers to learn the hammer throw, and its indoor counterpart, the 20-pound-weight toss. Powell, a former state shot put champion at Kellam High, was reluctant at first, but caught on quickly. ``Maybe,'' she said. ``It's just my thing.''

Seems to be. Powell was third in the 20-pound weight toss at the NCAA indoor meet. She's seeded fifth at the outdoor meet, and will likely need a career-best effort to upset a couple of favorites from South Carolina.

Powell's career-best is 195 feet. She'll need to break 200 feet to have a chance. She's done it in practice, Gordon said.

And, goodness knows, the hammer throw takes practice. Of all the throwing events, it may be the most technical.

The implement itself is not what you might think. The name conjures images of a Medieval-looking, ball-and-chain type of thing, complete with spikes.

Actually, a hammer is nothing more than a shot put attached to a handle with about three feet of wire. The women's hammer weighs just 8.8 pounds, making it more unweildy than heavy.

Speed and balance are Powell's biggest assets. So is her throwing technique. After years of throwing with just two turns, she's added a third.

The more turns, the better.

``I know the favorites are going to be hard to beat,'' Powell said. ``But you never know.

``All it takes, is one throw.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Tamika Powell

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