Rio de Janeiro - Coastal Carolina University alumna Amber Campbell finished sixth overall in the women's hammer throw at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Aug. 15. Campbell hurled the hammer farther than any American woman ever has.

In her third trip to the Olympic Games, Campbell finished with a throw of 72.74 meters - the highest for a U.S. female hammer thrower - just two meters away from the bronze medal.

"All of Chanticleer nation should be so proud of Amber," said Alan Connie, Coastal Carolina track and field coach emeritus, who coached Campbell while she was a Chanticleer and was in Rio de Jeneiro for the Olympics. "She is in her 17th year and has now represented the Unites States three times in the Olympics. She is the most decorated and accomplished women's hammer thrower in American history. She not only has won 11 USA titles, but won the last two Olympic Trials while breaking the Trails record twice.

"In the 2012 London games, she finished 13th, the highest any American woman had ever placed," Connie continued. "Then this year, she and her teammate DeAnna Price, who finished eighth, became the first two American women to advance to an Olympic final in the event. Amber capped it all off today by finishing sixth, breaking her old standard as the highest finishing American woman in the hammer at the Olympics, while setting an American record in the process.

"We cannot be more proud of Amber and the way she represents herself, her country and Coastal Carolina University. She does it all with such great dedication and integrity of purpose."

Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland won the event with a throw of 82.29 meters - a world record, followed by Zhang Wenxiu of China (76.75) and Sophie Hitchon of Great Britain (74.54).

Campbell, also competed in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. She placed 21st in the hammer throw in 2008 and 13th in 2012 with a mark of 69.93m.

Campbell was a five-time NCAA All-American and 16-time Big South Champion during her four years at Coastal. She was named the Big South Women's Track Athlete of the Year each of her final three years, and in 2002-03 was honored as the conference's Female Athlete of the Year. Campbell is also a member of the Coastal Carolina and Big South Hall of Fame.