Lawrence Claims Javelin Title At NCAA Championships
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sophomore Will Lawrence of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field team won the javelin on day one of the 2023 NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers also had three athletes compete in the men's discus, with one All-American, at the Polisseni Track & Field Complex at St. John Fisher Univerity
Photography by Aaron Brewer
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sophomore Will Lawrence of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field team won the javelin on day one of the 2023 NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers also had three athletes compete in the men's discus, with one All-American, at the Polisseni Track & Field Complex at St. John Fisher Univerity
With a school record throw of 72.14m (236' 8"), sophomore Will Lawrence was named a National Champion after besting the field by nearly nine feet. After fouling on his first two attempts, Lawrence advanced to the finals with a third-attempt mark of 69.21m. He followed that up with the fifth-best throw in Division III history and the best mark in DIII since 2018 on his fourth attempt which proved to be enough to win the event. Lawrence's throw is also a new WIAC record.
Senior Justin Eichler earned All-American honors in the discus after his opening throw of 49.60m (162' 8") propelled him to seventh overall. Eichler will also compete in the hammer for the third straight year on Saturday and enters the event second on the national list.
In his first NCAA Championships, freshman McKade Jelinek finished 13th in the discus with a toss of 48.53m (159' 2"). Jelinek wraps up a strong first year with the Pioneer program that includes the fifth-best mark in the men's outdoor discus in program history.
Senior Ben Veverka rounded out the three competing Pioneers in the discus. His mark of 53.50m qualified him for the third outdoor championships of his career and the fifth-best throw entering the day. Unfortunately, plans did not fall into place as he was unable to secure on mark on his three throws on the day.
Sophomore Brenna Noon will throw in the women's shot put on day two of the championships tomorrow at 3 p.m.
