Athletics News

NCAA Men’s Javelin — Pedigo Comes Through Once Again

NCAA Men’s Javelin — Pedigo Comes Through Once Again

Throwing long at the NCAA has become a habit for LSU’s Tzuriel Pedigo. (MIKE SCOTT)

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

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)…

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