Nazareth graduate goes big at Outdoor Nationals

Nazareth graduate Collin Burkhart is a national champion.

The Penn State commit threw a personal best of 209.38 feet to win the javelin at National Scholastic Athletics Foundation’s Outdoor Nationals on Wednesday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Burkhart also finished fifth Wednesday in the hammer throw, an event not contested in Pennsylvania but one he has been training for in anticipation of his college career. His best toss was 222.8 feet. Rhode Island’s John Fay (236.84) won the event.

Emmaus’ Tristan Schmidt finished 10th in the javelin with a best toss of 186.02 feet.

Burkhart won Class 3A gold in the javelin in late May at the PIAA Track & Field Championships with a throw of 208-6 and was eighth in the discus (165-5). Tunkhannock’s Matt Prebola, who was second to Burkhart at the state meet, was fourth Wednesday. Schmidt was third at states.

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