Sam Parker Earns NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships East First Round Bid

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since 2015, the Belmont University men's track and field program will have a javelin thrower competing in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Redshirt freshman Sam Parker has qualified for next week's 2025 NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
It marks the first time since 2019 the Bruins have had a men's field athlete earn a bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships East First Round. Austin Landis (2014-15) was the last Belmont men's javelin thrower to reach the NCAA East First Round and Stephen Gibson (2016-19) in the hammer throw was the Bruins' last field athlete to qualify for the NCAA East First Round.
 
In his first season competing at the collegiate level, Parker has quickly become one of Belmont's best javelin throwers in recent history. Surpassing 55 meters four times this spring, Parker won the Brent Chumbley Memorial Hilltopper Relays in late March before turning in his best throw this past Saturday at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships. Coming a mere five inches from the school record, Parker launched a missile of 211 feet, 7 inches (64.50m) on his fourth throw for a silver medal.
 
A native of Oviedo, Florida (Circle Christian), Parker ranks 85th nationally in the javelin and will enter the NCAA East First Round seeded 33rd.
 
The NCAA Outdoor Championships East First Round takes place next Wednesday-Saturday, May 28-31 on the campus of the University of North Florida at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. Men's events will be held next Wednesday, May 28 and next Friday, May 30.
 
The men's javelin is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT/2:30 p.m. ET next Wednesday.
 
The top 12 finishers in each event at the NCAA East First Round will advance to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships semifinals and finals, held Wednesday-Saturday, June 11-14 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
 
The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships East First Round will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live results can be found at BelmontBruins.com.
 
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