Behrend's Dan Mitchell Headed to NCAA Championships
Penn State Behrend freshman Dan Mitchell (Bloomsburg/Bloomsburg) is headed to Millikin University and the 2004 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet, which will take place May 27-29 in Decatur, Illinois, hosts the best Division III male and female track and field competitors in the nation. The rookie javelin thrower is one of fewer than 350 Division III men who qualified for the championships from a range of 21 events.
On April 24, at the IUP Invitational, Mitchell had a throw of 196'7", which was good enough to qualify him provisionally for the NCAA meet and set a new school record. Mitchell also had excellent performances at Clarion and Baldwin Wallace, placing first at both meets. Mitchell and head coach Dave Cooper learned yesterday that not only did Mitchell's best throw qualify him for the NCAA Championships, but that it was strong enough to place him tenth in a field of only 16 competitors, of which only one is a fellow freshman.
On Mitchell's freshman campaign coach Cooper said, "Dan has progressed very well throughout the season and has aimed for NCAA's right along." Mitchell is the first athlete to compete in the NCAA Track and Field Championships from Behrend.
The javelin throw will take place on Saturday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m. The top nine competitors will advance to the finals. Last year a throw of 197'10", just over a foot better than Mitchell's personal best, was good enough to take home first place.
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