Evelyn Bliss Resets School Record, Advances to Tomorrow's Finals at the 2025 FISU World University Games
7/25/2025 9:25:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
RHINE-RUHR, GERMANY- With mid-morning fully engaged in the scenic Rhine landscape, Evelyn Bliss, clad in her glorious Red, White, and Blue Team USA jersey, began her run for her first throw of the 2025 FISU World University Games Qualifying Round Group A. The Team USA thrower took a deep breath, revved her engine, installed the javelin in its locked-and-loaded position, set a determined face, galloped down the runway, and heaved the weapon across the robin's egg blue sky. She stopped inches short of the fault line and watched the trajectory. As she backtracked to the bench, the spotters arrived for the measurement, while Bliss carried a cautiously optimistic smile. The result arrived: 60.81m (199-6). Bliss let loose a triumphant "LET'S GO!," knowing she unlocked advancement to tomorrow's finals by easily surpassing the qualification benchmark of 57.60. With that information, she declined to take her remaining two throws.Â
"Going into qualifying rounds I had a good feeling, practices all week felt very strong," said Bliss. "Coach Protzman and I worked on being consistently in the 50m for practice. I was excited to compete today. Having the chance to compete internationally against these very competitive women is always a blessing. Looking towards tomorrow I want to replicate what I did today and I think that will put me in a very nice place."
Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman, Bliss' dedicated and expert mentor, was unable to make the expedition. He and her wife recently celebrated the birth of their firstborn child - a strapping baby boy, but he was up at 3:35 a.m. Eastern Time to watch his protege.Â
"60 meters is such a massive benchmark in women's javelin," said Protzman. "I'm so happy for her. The challenges I've presented her with the last couple of years haven't been all technical. Recently, we have just been pushing training throws a little more. Never has she focused on how far she threw a javelin in training with me until after NCAAs a month and a half ago. Today was special, and I think there is much more to go chase tomorrow in the final!"
Bliss was the only thrower to hit 60 meters in the qualifying round. Lianna Davidson (Australia) placed second, throwing 57.83, and Turkey's Esra Turkmen finished third at 57.48. The best javelineer in Group B, Australia's Mia Gordon, hit 56.39.
Twelve throwers advanced in all to the finals. Group A was more top heavy but Group B sent the quantity - seven.Â
Bliss has carved a name for herself in the javelin community, despite only reaching her twentieth year. Appropriately, the USA thrower shares her birthday with the United States Army on June 14 - Flag Day. She has reached the part of the hike where her heroes have become rivals and realistic goals to surpass. American legend Kara Winger represents that mark in Bliss' journey.Â
Winger holds the American record for women's javelin when she threw 68.11m (223-5) at the 2022 Diamond League and has won the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships eight times. She and Bliss shared the stage at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials where Winger finished second and Bliss, threw, at the time, a personal best of 55.82m (183-2), placing sixth.Â
Winger, like all great athletes, understand and cultivate the importance of building the sport for the next generation. She sees those same qualities in Bliss and offered her thoughts on the budding star's best traits:
"The thing that stands out to me about Evie is her focus, joy, and community building in her javelin career," said Winger. "Whenever I've seen her, she's sharing enthusiasm about the sport and event with someone in her camp, growing her love for the process alongside someone she cares about. Today, watching her celebrate with those people means to me that she's here to stay: She's building a foundation, and I look forward to watching her continue to thrive! I'll always be glad I got to share the runway with her once."
The finals begin tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time/8:20 p.m. German Time and will be streamed on FISU TV.Â
The mark reset her school record that the rising junior established at the 2025 NCAA East First Round, nabbed her first place in the qualifying round, and slotted into tenth in USA women's javelin history. The distance held up after Qualifying Round Group B as the supreme mark of the morning.ÂSCHOOL RECORD!
— Bucknell Track & XC (@Bucknell_TFXC) July 25, 2025
Throwing at the FISU World University Games this morning, Bliss, ON HER FIRST THROW, tossed 60.81m (199-5) to break her school record!
She finished first in her qualifying section and advances to tomorrow's championship!#rayBucknell | #FeelingBlissful pic.twitter.com/DDAjBLht70
"Going into qualifying rounds I had a good feeling, practices all week felt very strong," said Bliss. "Coach Protzman and I worked on being consistently in the 50m for practice. I was excited to compete today. Having the chance to compete internationally against these very competitive women is always a blessing. Looking towards tomorrow I want to replicate what I did today and I think that will put me in a very nice place."
Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman, Bliss' dedicated and expert mentor, was unable to make the expedition. He and her wife recently celebrated the birth of their firstborn child - a strapping baby boy, but he was up at 3:35 a.m. Eastern Time to watch his protege.Â
"60 meters is such a massive benchmark in women's javelin," said Protzman. "I'm so happy for her. The challenges I've presented her with the last couple of years haven't been all technical. Recently, we have just been pushing training throws a little more. Never has she focused on how far she threw a javelin in training with me until after NCAAs a month and a half ago. Today was special, and I think there is much more to go chase tomorrow in the final!"
Bliss was the only thrower to hit 60 meters in the qualifying round. Lianna Davidson (Australia) placed second, throwing 57.83, and Turkey's Esra Turkmen finished third at 57.48. The best javelineer in Group B, Australia's Mia Gordon, hit 56.39.
Twelve throwers advanced in all to the finals. Group A was more top heavy but Group B sent the quantity - seven.Â
Bliss has carved a name for herself in the javelin community, despite only reaching her twentieth year. Appropriately, the USA thrower shares her birthday with the United States Army on June 14 - Flag Day. She has reached the part of the hike where her heroes have become rivals and realistic goals to surpass. American legend Kara Winger represents that mark in Bliss' journey.Â
Winger holds the American record for women's javelin when she threw 68.11m (223-5) at the 2022 Diamond League and has won the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships eight times. She and Bliss shared the stage at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials where Winger finished second and Bliss, threw, at the time, a personal best of 55.82m (183-2), placing sixth.Â
Winger, like all great athletes, understand and cultivate the importance of building the sport for the next generation. She sees those same qualities in Bliss and offered her thoughts on the budding star's best traits:
"The thing that stands out to me about Evie is her focus, joy, and community building in her javelin career," said Winger. "Whenever I've seen her, she's sharing enthusiasm about the sport and event with someone in her camp, growing her love for the process alongside someone she cares about. Today, watching her celebrate with those people means to me that she's here to stay: She's building a foundation, and I look forward to watching her continue to thrive! I'll always be glad I got to share the runway with her once."
The finals begin tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time/8:20 p.m. German Time and will be streamed on FISU TV.Â
Players Mentioned
Throws
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