Sam Houston State's Chris Cralle won the hammer competition at the North American Caribbean Under age 23 Championships held July 9-11 in Miramar, Florida. 

Cralle defeated competitors from the United States, Canada and Mexico in the event.

The Bearkat senior redshirted during the 2010 track and field season but will return for his final year of competition in 2011.

Cralle's winning hammer throw was 232 feet. He trailed Walter Henning of LSU going into his final throw, but bested the All-America by more than four feet on his final opportunity. Henning, who was the national champion in this year's NCAA championships, fouled on his final throw.

"For one of our athletes to not just do well in an international completion, but win, is a huge accomplishment," said SHSU head track and field coach Dave Self. "We are looking forward to what he will be able to do for us next year."

Cralle won the Southland Conference hammer championship in both 2008 and 2009. He finished 15th at NCAA Outdoor nationals in 2009 with a throw of 206' 7". He set the Sam Houston school record in the hammer of 215' 0" at the Ty Terrell Relays in 2009.

His mark of 232' 0" last week does not count as a Bearkat school record since he was competing as an individual in a non-NCAA meet.