By Matt Kite
Valley Daily News

SEATTLE — Aretha Hill has always had a flair for the dramatic.

So it was no surprise Wednesday when the former Renton High standout waited until her final throw to qualify for the Olympics on the grass next to Husky Stadium.

Throwing in front of a crowd of media, officials and well-wishers, Hill spun the discus 198 feet, 6 inches to break her own school record and ensure herself a first-class ticket to Atlanta.

“All along, I was aiming for the Olympics in 2000, but I got there faster than I expected,” Hill said.

A University of Washington sophomore, Hill had until July 16 to meet the Olympic standard (196-10). She beat it by 20 inches.

“I feel like an Olympian,” Hill said. “I didn’t after the (U.S. Olympic) trials.”

At last week’s Trials, Hill finished third—good enough to make the U.S. team, but the 5-foot-11 19-year-old had yet to meet the standard. She waited until her 12th and final throw Wednesday.

“I don’t know if it’s my character or the pressure,” Hill said. “But I guess it’s just the way I am. I always seem to wait for the last throw. I hate to do that to myself and everybody watching.”

The meet, put together for the express purpose of qualifying Hill, was actually two meets in one. After Hill narrowly missed the standard on her first six throws, a short break was taken by the competitors, followed by the start of another meet.

Call it the Aretha Hill Invitational.

Hill got six more throws, and it finally ended with UW throwing coach Ken Shannon giving the touchdown sign as Hill’s last throw skipped across the grass. Shannon knew it was long enough, and so did Hill.

“It felt like a good one,” she said. “I just prayed, let it be.”

Added Hill, “I’m just happy it’s behind me. I’m ready to move on to the big time.”

Hill will fly to Atlanta in a couple of weeks to practice with the team. Joining her will be her mother and longtime fan, Susan Hill.

“I always have total faith in Aretha,” Susan Hill said afterward. “Ever since high school, when she’s said she would do something, she does it. It was just a matter of when. She always saves her best throw for last.”

Indeed, Hill, who took first in the discus at the prestigious Penn Relays earlier in the season, won the Pac-10 Championship on her final throw.

No stranger to the big meet, Hill began her successful career as a prep athlete at Renton, where she set school, league, district and state records before graduating.

“It’s really like a dream come true,” said Renton throwing coach Keith Eager, who was on hand to watch Hill’s qualifying throw. “It probably will never happen to me again. I’m just proud to know her.”

Hill isn’t the only Husky thrower to crack the U.S. Olympic team. Teammate Adam Setliff qualified in the men’s discus. But Shannon, who has sent a handful of athletes to the Olympics during his career, considers Hill particularly specail.

“This is the biggest thrill,” he said, “because she’s so young and she’s come so far so quickly. (The ’96 Olympics) will be a real eye-opener for her for the next Games. I told her I’ll retire then, but I’m gonna hang with her at least until 2001.”

The home crowd gave Hill a boost.

“When I walked out here, I was shocked to see all the people out here. I couldn’t have done it without them.”