Zara Northover
Personal information
BornMarch 6, 1984
Elmont, New York
Sport
CountryJamaica

Zara Northover (born March 6, 1984) is a Jamaican shot putter. Northover has dual citizenship in the United States and Jamaica,[1] and competed for Jamaica at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Northover attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where she competed on the women's track and field team, and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor in political science. As a senior, Northover was named Colonial Athletic Association Field Athlete of the Year after winning the shot put, discus and hammer and placing seventh in the javelin, helping lead Northeastern to their first CAA title in any sport.[2] Her throw at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship during the 2007 outdoor season set both Northeastern and ECAC records.[3] Northover was a five-time NCAA Championship qualifier and had the best national finish of her career in her final season, placing 10th at the NCAA Championship during the 2007 outdoor season,[4] and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.[5]

Internationally, she finished fifth at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games.[6] On June 8, 2008, Northover won the Island Games in Uniondale, New York, with a throw of 17.56 meters, allowing her to compete in the Jamaican Olympic Trials in Kingston, Jamaica.[7][8][9] She won the shot put at the Olympic Trials on June 28, 2008, with a throw of 16.78 meters. She was officially selected to represent Jamaica in Beijing by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association on July 8, 2008, becoming the first Northeastern women’s athlete to compete in a Summer Olympics.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Conolly, John. NU's Northover on fast track to success, Boston Herald. Published November 29, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  2. ^ Northover sweeps weight titles as Northeastern women win first-ever CAA championship[permanent dead link], CBS College Sports Network. Published April 23, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  3. ^ Owen, Nate. Senior Spotlights: Northover sets sights on Olympic games, Northeastern News. Published March 21, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  4. ^ Thompson, Rich. Northover: NU's big shot, Boston Herald. Published May 16, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  5. ^ Grempler, Northover nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year Award, Colonial Athletic Association. Published June 21, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  6. ^ 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games results, women's shot put final[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Foster, Anthony. Northover chasing Olympic dream Archived June 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica Gleaner. Published June 12, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  8. ^ Giardino, Carisa. Sewanhaka Alumnus Training for Summer Olympics Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Floral Park Dispatch. Published June 6, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  9. ^ Conolly, John. Ex-NU standout has shot at Beijing, Boston Herald. Published June 14, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  10. ^ Zara Northover to represent Jamaica at Olympics in Beijing Archived August 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Northeastern University Athletics. Published July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
  11. ^ Bolt, Stewart, Campbell-Brown and Powell head Jamaica's Olympic team Archived 2009-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, World-track.org. Published July 2, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.

External links

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