Bulldog Quijera gets second nationally in throwing javelin
EUGENE, Oregon – On a misty Eugene Wednesday afternoon, Nicolas Quijera put forth the best performance of his career in front of a national television audience to secure eight team points and a new lifetime best mark.
Quijera’s throw of 76.77 meters is the second best mark by a Bulldog in school history, which was good enough to finish second overall and earn first team All-America honors for the Spanish native.
“I am so happy right now,” Quijera said. “To come here, get second and be the NCAA runner up in my first year in the United States is awesome. To represent Mississippi State, it is all so very cool. This was the best day I have had as a Bulldog, and the best day I have had of my whole life. Throwing 76 meters was a great moment for me, but I had to stay focused because I still had three throws left. I was trying to throw the (Spanish) national record, which is 78 meters. It is right there, and I know I can throw it. I have to continue to keep throwing, and enjoy this moment.”
The 2016 National Champion Curtis Thompson earned first team All-America honors for the third consecutive season, picking up two team points in a seventh-place finish. Thompson finished with a best mark of 72.47 meters.
In the long jump, Willie Reed secured a 19th place finish after leaping 7.28 meters.
The men’s 4x400 meter relay team of Rasheed Tatham, Juston Waters, Charles Taylor, Stephan James earned second team All-America honors with a 15th place finish and a time of 3:06.82.
Overall, the Bulldogs currently stand tied for seventh place with 10 team points after one day of competition in Eugene.
“We have known all year that our javelin team can be really special,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “That group has consistently performed at an elite level all season long. Nico picked the absolute perfect day to have a career performance, and the 10 points he and Curtis earned us (Wednesday) are going to go a really long way before this week is over. We are really pleased with our performances (Wednesday).”