SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University sophomore Matt Deamer (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley H.S.) continues to own the longest throw in NCAA Division III in the javelin this season, with a top throw of 212 feet, 1 inch in a quad meet at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on March 24.
In fact, Deamer has surpassed the 200-foot plateau on three occasions this season, and owns three of the top four distances in Division III during the 2001 season.
He opened the outdoor season with a flourish by throwing 209 feet, 8 inches at the Washington & Lee Invitational on March 17 to automatically qualify for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, and followed one week later with his Division-III best throw against Gettysburg, Messiah and Juniata. On Tuesday, Deamer easily won the event in a tri-meet against Messiah and Elizabethtown with a throw of 203 feet, 5 inches.
The only other Division III athletes to surpass 200 feet this year are Carroll (Wisc.) junior Nick Weitor at 203 feet, 10 inches and Middlebury's Bryan Black at 200 feet, 7 inches. The NCAA Division III automatic qualifying distance is 200 feet, 5 inches.
Last season, Deamer was seeded second at the NCAA Division III championships at North Central College after a regular-season throw of 211 feet, 6 inches, but he finished 11th as teammate Adam Ressler took home the gold with a Susquehanna modern-record throw of 221 feet, 6 inches.
Susquehanna has qualified at least one athlete in the men's javelin at nationals for five consecutive years, and Deamer will look to become the third Susquehanna national champion in the event in the last four years. Besides Ressler's title last year, Janee Shaner claimed the women's national title in 1998 as a freshman.
All three have been coached in the event by former Lewisburg High School and Susquehanna standout Cris Delbaugh, who has had four All-Americans in addition to two national champions in his 10 years as an assistant coach.
Deamer is also attempting to become the eighth national champion and 33rd All-American for Susquehanna men's track and field coach Jim Taylor in his 23 seasons at the helm of the Crusaders.
The 2001 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois from May 24-26.
