TZURIEL PEDIGO is used to be being behind. After two rounds here the LSU junior stood 7th at 238-5 (72.66), already 16ft behind Chine Nnamdi of Baylor (254-10/77.68) and 15 back of favored Marc Minichello (253-6/77.27) — the champion a year ago for Penn, now throwing for Georgia.
In an instant, Pedigo, throwing fifth in the order, wiped out the deficit, throwing a lifetime best 261-9 (79.79) in round 3. He did little after that — two fouls and 212-6 (64.77) in round 5 — other than watch nervous measurements: 257-1 (78.36) by Nnamdi and 260-1 (79.27) for Virginia’s Eugene Dabbs, last year’s runner-up.
“It’s surreal,” Pedigo said. “It’s amazing.”
He has been here before. In the ’21 NCAA, his frosh season, he entered the final round in 7th. What did he do? A PR 252-7(76.98) to win the thing. On his final throw.
Last year’s NCAA? 258-10 (78.90) to get 3rd. On his final throw. A lifetime best. Ice water in his veins.
Three NCAA meets, three lifetime bests — in a notoriously erratic event — two in the final round; two national titles, one 3rd. With a year to go he has a shot at becoming just the third man to win 3 times, joining Patrik Bodén of Texas (’89, ’90, ’91) and Bud Held of Stanford (’48, ’49, ’50).
For the second year in a row, Dabbs took 2nd, throwing 260-1 (79.27) in round 4, ahead of Nnamdi and Minichello. All three were models of consistency, as each had 4 legal throws beyond 240. Pedigo had just 1, the one that counted.
Despite Louisiana’s storied tradition in the event, Pedigo, a Baton Rouge native, becomes just the third from the state to win the javelin, joining fellow Tiger Delmon McNabb, of Lake Charles, the ’67 champion, and Chris Hill, of Sulphur, a 2-time winner for Georgia (’08 & ’09).
“It’s about putting LSU on the map,” Pedigo said. “It’s great to do something that’s a positive thing for LSU.”
His next ambition is to throw 80m (262-5). He was perilously close here with 79.79. “Seeing that number tonight just makes me feel comfortable that I’m doing the right thing,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just have to keep working on what I’ve been working on.”
MEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
(June 07)
1. *Tzuriel Pedigo (LSU) 261-9 (79.79) PR
(238-5, 236-8, 261-9, f, 212-6, f) (72.66, 72.15, 79.79, f, 64.77, f);
2. Ethan Dabbs (Va) 260-1 (79.27)
(230-8, 234-2, 246-9, 260-1, 259-9, 243-1) (70.30, 71.37, 75.21, 79.27, 79.19, 74.09);
3. **Chinecherem Nnamdi’ (Bay-Ngr) 257-1 (78.36)
(254-10, 245-10, 257-1, 238-9, 235-2, 250-6) (77.68, 74.95, 78.36, 72.78, 71.69, 76.35);
4. Marc Minichello (Ga) 253-6 (77.27)
(239-0, 253-6, 252-9, 248-0, 234-3, 240-10) (72.84, 77.27, 77.05, 75.61, 71.40, 73.41);
5. *Sam Hankins (TxAM) 249-11 (76.18) PR
(236-5, 237-4, 249-11, f, 229-5, f) (72.07, 72.35, 76.18, f, 69.93, f);
6. *Braden Presser (Navy) 249-4 (76.00) PR
(f, 247-8, 239-7, 233-9, 249-4, 221-6) (f, 75.48, 73.02, 71.24, 76.00, 67.53);
7. John Keenan (NDm) 249-2 (75.96) PR
(249-2, 229-9, 241-6, 240-7, f, 237-3) (75.96, 70.02, 73.62, 73.33, f, 72.31);
8. *Cameron Bates (BYU) 245-1 (74.71)
(f, 227-4, 245-1, 228-2, 236-4, 237-9) (f, 69.29, 74.71, 69.56, 72.03, 72.46);
9. *Remi Rougetet’ (MsSt-Fra) 240-10 (73.41) PR; 10. Jackson Morris (CoSt) 240-2 (73.21); 11. *Arthur Petersen’ (Nb-Den) 236-10 (72.20); 12. **Evan Niedrowski (Monm) 235-8 (71.85); 13. ***Dash Sirmon (Nb) 230-4 (70.20); 14. *Luke Jackson (Duke) 230-3 (70.18); 15. *Chandler Ault (Wa) 228-5 (69.62); 16. *Benji Phillips (NDSt) 227-3 (69.26); 17. **Matt Kraft (NDSt) 225-9 (68.81); 18. *Lucas Frost (RI) 222-0 (67.67); 19. Colin Winkler (Ct) 218-7 (66.62); 20. Zion Hill’ (NTx-Bar) 218-3 (66.53); 21. *Ethan Cocco (Clem) 214-10 (65.49); 22. *Jared O’Riley (Az) 212-11 (64.91); 23. *Izac Canchola (SFA) 203-10 (62.12); 24. *Tyriq Horsford’ (MsSt-Tri) 201-7 (61.44).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: 8–10)