Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA National Championships
Ted Heitzman Earns All-America Honors with Sixth-Place Javelin Finish at NCAA Championships
6/8/2011 8:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
June 8, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa - Ted Heitzman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) became Bucknell track and field's first All-American since 1996, finishing sixth in the javelin at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium on Wednesday. Heitzman posted one of the best throws of his career, wrapping up the season with a mark of 236 feet, 7 inches and earning a chance at the U.S. Track & Field National Championships later this month.
Heitzman, who entered the meet seeded 14th, improved his standing with his second throw of the day. His 236-7 moved him up to sixth overall and the placing held all the way through the finals.
"I felt good going in," said Heitzman. "(I was) a little nervous, but I kept my composure and things fell into place."
After things fell into place, the native of Elysburg, Pa., became the first Bucknellian to be named an All-American since Jim Heizman earned honors with a 13th-place finish in the hammer throw in 1996. Heitzman and Heizman are the only two field athletes to qualify for the national championships in program history. In addition to Heizman, the current Bison also joins Thomas McLean (1975, 1976, 1977), George Buckheit (1979), Rick Sayre (1981) and Bill Reifsnyder (1982) as Bucknell's only All-Americans in outdoor track and field.
Heitzman is also the first All-American for the Patriot League since American's Sean Duffy place third in the 1,500 meters in 2005.
"Finishing sixth in the nation in his first NCAA Championship is a huge accomplishment for Ted," said head coach Kevin Donner following the competition. "He is having a fantastic season, and his All-American accolades will give him great confidence when he competes in the USATF National Championships two weeks from now in Eugene (Oregon)."
On Wednesday Heitzman, a junior, trailed a youthful group of competitors. Sophomore Tim Glover of Illinois State won the national title with a throw of 263-6. Second, third and fourth place were also sophomores, while fifth place was occupied by a freshman. Heitzman was also not the only thrower to shake up the seeding. Glover entered competition in Des Moines projected sixth, while second-place Matthias Treff of Virginia Tech began with the 23rd seed. Johannes Swanepoel, the freshman from Kansas who placed fifth, also improved from his No. 16 seed.
Heitzman's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) First Team All-America honor is just the latest in a season that has been filled with success. Heitzman also set the Bucknell program record (237-8) and the Patriot League Championship record (232-4) earlier this spring.
Bucknell's season is not quite done yet. Laura Rycek (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) will compete in the women's javelin tomorrow at 3:05 p.m.
