US National Champion Evelyn Bliss & Shot Put Record Holder Wade Shomper Compete in the NCAA Championships

Wednesday, June 10

Eugene, Ore.

10:10 p.m. (ET)/7:10 p.m. (PT)

Bucknell University

NCAA National Championships

Evelyn Bliss & Wade Shomper in Action at the NCAA East First Round

US National Champion Evelyn Bliss & Shot Put Record Holder Wade Shomper Compete in the NCAA Championships

6/9/2026 2:22:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

LEWISBURG, Pa.- US National Champion Evelyn Bliss and Bucknell's record holder in the shot put, Wade Shomper, have the chance to create program history this week at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Bliss enters the competition seeded first, looking to earn the school's first NCAA title since Thomas McLean won the 800-meter run in 1976 and become the women's program's second three-time All-American after fellow javelin thrower Maura Fiamoncini pulled the hat trick in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Shomper, seeded 12th, seeks to become the men's program's first All-American since Leonard Joseph notched Second Team honors in 2013. Finishers 1-8 receive First Team, and placements 9-16 earn Second Team. The individual events will be streamed on ESPN+, and live updates will be provided on the Bucknell Track & Field X account.

What: 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Where: Hayward Field-Eugene, Ore.
When: June 10-11
Live Results: flashresults.com
Live Stream: ESPN+ (Men's Shot Put) | ESPN+ (Women's Javelin)

**Competition Times for Bucknell Participants**
Day	Event	Athlete	Time (ET)
June 10	Men's Shot Put	Wade Shomper	10:10 p.m.
June 11	Women's Javelin	Evelyn Bliss	9:15 p.m.

Evelyn Bliss Overview

The reigning United States national champion has authored one of the finest campaigns in the Bucknell annals and looks to script the ideal finis by winning the NCAA title. Bliss is well-equipped to take home the crown. Her throw of 61.34m (201-3), achieved at April's Bison Outdoor Classic, remains the #1 toss in the NCAA, by nearly three meters. The junior javelineer still appears capable of throwing further by recording several other throws over 60 meters at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships - where she became a three-time winner - and the NCAA East First Round when she won via the one-throw-and-done approach.

The Bison javelineer has laid waste to the opposition in 2026. She has won every collegiate competition (6-for-6) while setting facility records. Her name will now be emblazed across the facades at Bucknell (Bison Outdoor Classic), Maryland (Kehoe Twilight), Kentucky (NCAA East First Round), Navy (Patriot League Outdoor Championships), Penn (Penn Relays), and William & Mary (Colonial Relays). She reset her school record at the Bison Outdoor Classic by crossing her Rubicon goal of 60 meters.

Bliss hit 61.02m (200-2) at the NCAA East First Round and could have reached longer lengths had she decided to take her other two throws. However, she hit her goal of 60 meters in the first throw and knew the distance punched her return ticket to Eugene.

She earned Second Team All-American honors in 2024 (13th) and 2025 (12th) but wants the national title and First Team laurels. Only two Bison women have notched First Team. Lonnie Fertik placed fourth in the heptathlon in 1982 and Fiamoncini slotted third in 2021.

The competition includes defending national champion Valentina Barrios Bornacelli (Missouri). The senior threw a personal record of 62m (203-5), nearly five meters better than her previous standard during her final attempt. Bornacelli's best this season was 58.31m (191-4) at the SEC Championships but she has the clutch gene and capability to uncork a banger.

Manuela Rotundo (Georgia), who finished second in 2025, scratched in her only two 2026 meets and will not be present. Irene Jepkemboi (TCU) won bronze last year and returns as the ninth seed. Bliss broke her Penn Relays record this season. The 4-5-6-8-9 finishers were seniors. The seventh place thrower, McKyla Van Der Westhuizen (Rice), is seeded fourth. Tenth-place finisher, Shea Greene (Princeton), is a familiar foe for Bliss. The two juniors have dueled at various competitions.

A pair of Iron Bowl rivals also present potential danger. Eleanor Patrick (Alabama) is seeded second after throwing 57.99m (190-3) at the NCAA East First Round. The sophomore improved tremendously from her freshman season which ended after a 28th placement at the NCAA East First Round. Auburn's rookie thrower, Sophia Mazzoni, finished fifth at the SEC Championships but hit a personal record of 56.51m (185-5) at the NCAA East First Round to finish third. She is seeded fifth.

"I finished 13th my freshman year and 12th last year," Bliss said. "My goal in the past has been to make that final. So, it's definitely like in the back of my mind all season. It's what keeps me driven. I want to win it. I think I put myself in a good position early in the year and up until Kentucky to put myself in a position to win. I just want to go and sort of avenge my past two years."

Bliss will throw sixth in the second flight. The top nine advance to the finals.

Wade Shomper Overview

Shomper continued his reign as the program's preeminent shot put thrower by becoming Bucknell's first National Championship qualifier since Joseph in 2013 and the first in the event.

Hayward Field's large stage will not impact Shomper. The senior has a knack for raising to the level of competition. His best throws in 2026 arrived at the most prestigious events. He established personal and school records at the competitive Raleigh Relays (second), Patriot League Outdoor Championships (first), and NCAA East First Round (sixth).

He enters the NCAA Championships as the 12th seed and, if he performs to the metric, he will become Bucknell's first All-American since Joseph. However, Bison fans should not be surprised if he outperforms his designation. Shomper was seeded 24th for the NCAA East First Round and finished sixth after uncorking a massive personal record toss of 18.94m (62-1.75).

Shomper's career is one destined for the Bucknell Hall of Fame. He owns the school records in both the indoor and outdoor shot put, minted gold three times at Patriot League Championships, three-time First Team All-Patriot League, five-time Academic All-Patriot League, a three-time All-East winner. Ideally, the senior looks to add All-American to his resume.

A review of last year's shot put results says his personal record would have placed 12th. The field is wide open with eight of the top ten finishers in 2025 having graduated. Shomper, one of the few remaining gliders in the event, has plenty of non-Bucknell fans rooting for him and his old-school method.

Shomper is the eighth thrower in the second flight. He has the lowest PR in his flight but that will drive the Bucknell thrower to even greater feats.

"I think sometimes I just have a little chip on my shoulder," Shomper said. "Everybody goes to these big meets and they see the big name schools, the Power Four schools, and a lot of people just shy away from that competition. So I sort of felt that way at Penn Relays and I knew I had to change something. Just working a lot on my mindset, my mental game, just telling myself that I belong there, that I'm not an imposter. It's just really allowed me to rise to the level and compete with those big dogs."

Protzman's Palaver

Throws coach Ryan Protzman believes his dynamic duo will shine under track and field's brightest lights.

"It's one of those things you love as a coach," Protzman said. ""Whenever I recruit these athletes, it's the first thing I talk about is being competitive, being able to step up when the pressure's on. That's when you grow. It doesn't have to be in track and field. It's in anything. Whenever you have pressure, backs against the wall, what are you made of?"

Bliss' summer will continue with her title defense at the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships. Shomper can qualify for the US Championships by reaching the qualifying mark of 19 meters. The event will be held at Icahn Stadium in New York City on July 23-26.