(MSUB Athletics release)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Saturday junior thrower Beau Ackerman became the first-ever first team all-American in Montana State University Billings Track and Field history. The Glendive, Mont. native achieved the feat with a fifth-place finish in the javelin at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of 68.04 meters (223’ 3”).
“His second throw was pretty good but it came out low and on the third throw he made the adjustment and had a great throw,” head coach Jonathan Woehl said of Ackerman’s effort. “He’s done great work all year and now he gets some well-deserved rest. Now next season he has to come back and hit that 70 meter mark. It was a great season for him and I am excited to see what he can do next season.”
After making a habit of great first throws this season, it was Ackerman’s third throw that set a new benchmark for MSUB Track and Field. The finish is the highest in Yellowjacket history and Ackerman is the first MSUB athlete to score points at the national championships with the four points he was awarded.
Returning champion Nils Fischer won the javelin throw as the Angelo State product recorded a throw of 75.19 meters (246’ 8”). St. Augustine’s Najair Jackson placed second with a throw measuring 71.56 meters (234’ 9”). Three other Great Northwest Athletic Conference throwers were in the event with Western Washington’s Alex Barry placing fourth and Saint Martin’s Brian Chalkley placing seventh, also finishing as first team all-Americans.
Ackerman’s performance concludes the Yellowjackets’ season with two all-Americans and three national qualifiers. The ‘Jackets claimed four Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at the conference meet and had their highest finish in program history.
The Yellowjackets also had a program first with three athletes taking part in the national championships and this marked the third consecutive season that at least one MSUB athlete has traveled to the national meet. Jorey Egeland’s 11th-place finish in yesterday’s steeplechase was a program best for one day after he unseeded Sam Zook’s 12th place finish from a year ago. Zook took 16th in this years’ 100-meter dash.
