Zara Northover

Zara Northover
Personal information
Full nameZara Georgia Northover
Born (1984-03-06) 6 March 1984 (age 42)
Elmont, New York, U.S.
Height165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Websitezaranorthover.com
Sport
CountryJamaica
SportAthletics
Event
Shot put
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Jamaica
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place2010 MayagüezShot put

Zara Georgia Northover (born 6 March 1984) is a Jamaican shot putter. Northover has dual citizenship in the United States and Jamaica, 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. Her throw at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship during the 2007 outdoor season set both Northeastern and ECAC records. 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, and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Internationally, she finished fifth at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games. On 8 June 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. She won the shot put at the Olympic Trials on 28 June 2008, with a throw of 16.78 meters. She was officially selected to represent Jamaica in Beijing by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association on 8 July 2008, becoming the first Northeastern women’s athlete to compete in a Summer Olympics.

References

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