PUEBLO, Colo. - Minot State’s Leif Nelson is an All-American once again.
Turning in the second-best throw of his career, the junior from Devils Lake, North Dakota finished 5th on Saturday in the men’s javelin throw at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championship hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo.
In his second-of-three throws to start the competition, Nelson turned in an effort of 234 feet, 8 inches, earning him a spot in the event finals and three more throws.
That second throw of the day proved to be his best, though, and fifth-best out of the field of 19 competitors as Nelson earned NCAA All-American honors for the second year in a row. Last year Nelson finished 12th and earned All-American honors in the javelin at the national championships hosted by Grand Valley State (Mich.).
Devous Deysel of Angelo State (Texas) won the individual national title in the javelin with a new championship-record throw of 259 feet, 8 inches.
The top 5 finish earned 4 team points for the Beavers, as well, and it is the second time in Minot State’s program history the Beavers have scored at the NCAA National Championship meet.
Nelson’s fifth-place performance also matches the best finish at nationals in Beaver track and field history as Kirk Capdeville also finished fifth at the 2014 outdoor championship in the men’s pole vault.
