DC’s Postema Hurls Third-Furthest Hammer Toss in DIII History

MANCHESTER, Ind. – Senior thrower Tom Postema put on a jaw-dropping spectacle on Friday, April 26 at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. The Defiance, Ohio, native tossed a first-place distance of 65.80 meters (215.88 ft.) in the hammer throw that established the third-best mark in National Collegiate Athletic Association Div. III history. [Results]

Postema blew away the old HCAC record in the event by 6.73 m, along with besting the school record he set earlier in the season by over three meters. This amazing mark was so impressive that the senior would sit 10th on the current NCAA Div. I qualifying list, third in Div. II and also hit the B standard qualifying mark for the United States Olympic Trials. The Tinora High product was not done however, as he also took home the top spot in the shot put with a distance of 15.65 m.

Even though the Yellow Jacket thrower stole the spotlight at the competition, DC's distance runners had their A-game on as well. Junior Joe Davis ran a personal-record time of 9:44.47 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to take home first. Sophomore Troy Parrett then came away with the top qualifying time in the 800 at 1:57.60 and will be the top seed in the finals tomorrow. Finally, senior Hayden Krick paced his way to fourth place in the 10,000-meter run by clocking in a time of 33:44.64.

In field event action, the Purple and Gold showed well with solid performances. Senior Dan Hardin-Wallace took third in the pole vault by climbing a height of 4.11 meters. In the same event, sophomore Ryan Johnston cleared 3.81 m for fifth. Then junior throwers Anthony Nolfi and Luiyi Nunez earned fifth in the hammer (47.58 m) and sixth in the shot put (13.74 m), respectively.

DC's efforts currently have them resting in second place with 52 points after the first day of action. The Jackets trail leader Rose-Hulman by only one point and sit in front of third-place Franklin who has 43.

The Purple and Gold will compete tomorrow Saturday, April 27 in day two of competition at the conference meet and look to move up in the final standings. Action is set to begin at 10 p.m.