Bliss Headlines Bison Contingent at the NACAC Senior Championships; Seeks Entry for the World Athletics Championships

FREEPORT, THE BAHAMAS- The reigning United States women's javelin champion Evelyn Bliss and Prizila Negrete represent America and Honduras respectively at the 2025 NACAC (North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletics Association) Senior Championships from August 15-17 in the seafaring and sand-laden Bahamas. Bliss, the star javelin thrower, seeks entry into the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo while Negrete looks to improve upon her personal best standards. The women's javelin starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday while Negrete's events - the discus and the shot put - occur at 11 a.m. Saturday for the former and 5:15 p.m. Sunday for the former.

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"In the sport of track & field, there is nothing better than representing your country in international competition and to have two members of the Bucknell program at the same meet is very special," said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner. "Both are gaining tremendous experience which will set them up for a great junior year. Evie is ranked relatively high in the world rankings and this meet can potentially put her in a position to make Team USA at next month's World Championships in Tokyo. We are very proud of Evie and Prizila."

"Excited to have a couple throwers representing their countries with Evie and Prizila," said Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman. "Both will gain valuable big meet experience. This will be one of the biggest meets in both of their careers and I'm happy for both of them. Can't wait to watch them both give their best efforts while proudly representing their countries and both bleeding a little blue and orange."

Bliss currently sits 47th in the queue for the 2025 World Athletics Championships with 1075 points. The Bison thrower must move into the top 36 or hit the automatic qualifier mark of 64 meters to gain a ticket for Tokyo in September. The committee utilizes a complicated formula to weigh competitions and each thrower's top five finishes in a calender year. As a regional meet, the NACAC Senior Championships rank heavily in the calculations and a throw of 57 meters or higher and a top three finish should prove decisive for Bliss' Tokyo dreams. For her part, Bliss' strategy is simple: throw far.

"So blessed to get the chance to compete for Team USA and I am gunning for points to make the World's Team" said Bliss.

The summer of 2025 has been a historic one for the rising junior. She reset her school record at the FISU University World Games in Germany throwing 199-6 in the preliminary round (the tenth best throw in American history) and then won silver in the finals. Five days later, fighting off jet lag, massive time zone fatigue, and a sore knee, she vanquished her American competition at Hayward Field to win the United States women's javelin title.

A throw of 64 meters requires Bliss to PR (personal record) nearly four meters better than her best effort of 60.8m (199-6). The proposed measurement feels small (basically ten feet - just over a three-yard gain in football parlance) but any experienced thrower will inform you that distance is often increased in inches. However, Bliss went from a previous best 57.06m (187-2) at the 2025 NCAA East Round in May to the 60.8m thrown in late July. She has displayed the necessary boost and has been able to refuel and refresh after her grueling week.

"Evie is batting to add the World Championships to her schedule and I would be lying if I said that was something we had planned," added Protzman."

Negrete enters her two events as a distinct underdog but experience in international competitions will pay large dividends for her career. The Bison rising junior minted two medals at the 2025 Central American Championships. She won gold in the shot put and silver in the discus. Negrete competes for Honduras via her maternal grandparents' heritage.

"It was a really unexpected opportunity, but one I knew I couldn't give up" said Negrete. "It is always an honor to rep the Five Stars."

The two extra competitions will assist Negrete's growth into becoming one of Bucknell women's throws mainline options for the 2025-26 season. She ranks sixth in Bucknell history for the weight throw.

"Prizila is stamping an end to her sophomore season that provided growth and will set her up for a huge junior year," said Protzman.

Bliss Headlines Bison Contingent at the NACAC Senior Championships; Seeks Entry for the World Athletics Championships

Players Mentioned

Evelyn Bliss

Prizila Negrete

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