All-American: Mortimore Takes 7th in Javelin at NCAA Championships

Wednesday, June 10

Eugene, Ore.

7 p.m.

North Dakota State

NCAA Outdoor Championships

All-American: Mortimore Takes 7th in Javelin at NCAA Championships

6/10/2015 11:32:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

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EUGENE, Ore. – North Dakota State sophomore Matti Mortimore earned the highest NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships finish in the school's history on Wednesday evening at historic Hayward Field, placing seventh in the javelin with a school-record effort.

Mortimore threw 237-8 (72.44m) on his sixth and final attempt to extend his own school record by four inches. He entered the meet ranked 12th among the 24 national qualifiers, but he left as a first-team All-American by virtue of his top-8 finish.

Bison freshman Austin Schmidt finished 16th for second-team All-America honors after entering the national meet ranked 23rd among the 24 competitors. Schmidt (Stanley, N.D.) is NDSU's first freshman All-American at the Division I level.

Schmidt recorded the second-best throw of his life on his opening attempt, hitting 222-3 (67.75m). He added another strong toss of 215-11 (65.83m) on his third and final attempt, but fell short of making the nine-man final and earning three more throws.

Mortimore and Schmidt became the second and third Bison to earn outdoor All-American honors at the Division I level, joining Casey Orgon who was honorable mention All-America in the hammer throw in 2013.

Mortimore (Ipswich, Suffolk, England) exceeded 68 meters on all six of his attempts Wednesday – the only competitor in the field to do so. Simply put, he recorded the best performance of his life on his largest stage yet.

"This is the biggest competition I've ever thrown at," Mortimore said. "I have competed with people who have thrown further, but never in a field as consistently as good as this. The NCAA Championships…it was a huge crowd. This is sort of 'track central', and I just loved every minute of it."

Mortimore transferred to NDSU last summer prior to the 2014-15 school year, and says he couldn't be happier with his decision.

"I love being a Bison, and I said that with a 'z' this time," Mortimore said. "I've come so far with Justin and with the program. It was the best competition of my life, and it's good that I could produce my best effort ever on the last round."

"I'm sure it won't be too long before someone places higher than top seven. We have a really talented team. Next year, hopefully I can better this year – I really hope to – but I just couldn't feel any better right now."

The significance of his coach's guidance was not lost on Mortimore, who was quick to give credit to Bison throws coach Justin St. Clair.

"It's clear by results this season that he is the difference," said Mortimore. "He is just a phenomenal coach. He's a great friend. I can't imagine working with anyone else, and I don't want to."

Mortimore, who ranks third among all British men in the javelin this year, also had some high praise for his younger teammate.

"Austin is fantastically talented," Mortimore related. "Technically, he's a freshman so he hasn't been throwing for long, but he is a big, strong kid. He is going to throw a long ways. I'm going to have to step my game up if I want to stay the NDSU record holder by the time he's done. He's going to go a long way."