SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University sophomore Matt Deamer (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley H.S.) will look to become the school's third national champion in the javelin in the last four years when he competes at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois on Thursday at 3 p.m. (EDT).
Deamer, who finished fifth at the Middle Atlantic Conference championships, is the number-two seed in the event after qualifying with a season-best distance of 212 feet, 1 inch in a quad meet at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium on March 24. A total of 16 athletes will compete in two flights, with the top nine advancing to the finals.
Coe College senior Bryan Berkompas owns the longest throw in Division III this season with a distance of 222 feet, 1 inch set at the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on May 11.
Deamer was seeded second at last year's NCAA meet 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. 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.
