After finishing in second place behind Sulphur High graduate and University of Georgia standout Chris Hill, University of Southern California’s Corey White finally was able to beat Hill on Saturday as he took first in the open division at a javelin only meet held at McNeese State University’s Track and Field complex.

Hill won the NCAA javelin championship this year as well as the North America, Central America, Caribbean 23-under Championship in Toluca, Mexico. White finished second to Hill in both of those meets.

Hill’s first throw of 75.53 meters (247 feet 9 1/2 inches) set a new record for the MSU track and field complex. Hill set the previous record of 237 feet as a freshman thrower for McNeese in 2007 but Corey White eclipsed Hill’s new record with a distance of 75.66m (248 feet 2 1/2 inches) on his third throw of the afternoon. Hill’s second throw would have been close to White’s top mark but was just out of bounds.

Both Hill and White were looking to reach the Olympic ‘A’ standard of 81.80m to qualify for the World Championships next year.

Despite not winning the competition, Hill was glad he got to throw in front of family and friends.

“It was good to be back and throw in front of my family and friends,” Hill said. “There was a good atmosphere out here and I had a great time.”

Hill’s best throw of the day of 75.53m was short of his personal best of 81.72m at the Drake Relays during the NCAA Track and Field season.

“I did not throw as far as I wanted but it has been a long season,” Hill said. “It was not terrible but I was losing the tip of my javelin (the tip was dropping too soon) and just some mental mistakes.”

Hill will take the next month or so off before beginning training for the 2009 NCAA Track and Field season and hopefully make the ‘A’ standard.

“Next is the NCAA Track and Field (season) and after that hopefully I will have the ‘A’ standard by then and looking to travel around Europe next year and the World Championships,” Hill said.

While Hill and White highlighted Saturday’s competition, there were also several former standout college and high school throwers.

Former Northwestern State   University and Sam Houston High School thrower Samantha Ford who finished eighth at the Olympic trials came close to breaking the women’s record of 164 feet 5 inches for MSU’s complex with a throw of 49.09m (161 feet 1/2 inch). Samantha Chesson Landrineaux who also threw on Saturday holds the record.

In the exhibition flight held before the open flight, MSU athletic director Tommy McClelland threw 177 feet 10 1/2 inches to win the flight. McClelland threw for Northwestern State University during his college days.

Also in the exhibition flight was Craig Andrus who is the father of recent Sulphur High graduate and basketball standout Jordan Andrus. Andrus threw 157 feet 8 1/2 inches.