MONMOUTH, Ill. – Graduating last week with a degree in business, Monmouth College’s John Hintz had one more order of business before his college career wound down. But his plans to make one last trip to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships were derailed after an injury last week forced his early retirement.
“John injured himself last Thursday throwing the hammer at the Augustana meet,” explained coach Roger Haynes of the medical scratch filed Monday afternoon. “He worked with our trainer over the weekend, but was unable to throw without great pain in Monday morning’s workout.”
Hintz had qualified in the discus and hammer throw and would have been the sixth seed in the hammer with his 201’8” effort from early April. He was the 12th seed in the discus with a mark of 166’10”.
“John overcame a lot of bumps in the road throughout his career,” said throws coach Brian Woodard as Hintz’ career came to an early end. “Injuries slowed him down over his four years at Monmouth, but he stayed positive and got better every year, which is what you hope for as a coach. He followed the trainer’s instructions over the weekend, but just wasn’t able to go. He deserved better than to end his career with an injury just days before the national meet, but he can be proud of his body of work this season, earning All-American indoors and adding to his conference titles.”
Hintz ends his career with an All-American award in the weight throw, which he accomplished in March. He had qualified indoors three straight years in the weight throw from 2017-19. This weekend would have been his second trip to the outdoor meet.
The lone Fighting Scot to qualify for the NCAA outdoor meet, Hintz’s absence will mark the first outdoor meet without a Monmouth entry – men or women – since 1982.
***Report Courtesy of Monmouth College***
