Marc Pallozzi Advances to Men's Javelin Final at NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sacramento, Calif. -- University at Albany’s Marc Pallozzi advanced to the men’s javelin final at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, June 6 at California State University, Sacramento’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Pallozzi reached the final round for the second straight year with a throw of 216-feet, 2-inches.

Pallozzi finished seventh in his flight and 11th overall against 26 throwers in the preliminary round. He earned a spot in the 12-competitor final on Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET. Defending NCAA champion Justin Ryncavage, of North Carolina, took ninth in the preliminaries (217-10), while McNeese State’s Chris Hill had the best mark of the day (238-10).

“It was a nerve-racking experience,” said Pallozzi, the America East Conference champion whose best throw came on his first attempt. “There is certainly a sense of relief that I made the final. Funny things happen at nationals and there were several top-10 throwers who didn’t make it today. It’s going to take a school record in the 71-meter range to finished in the top three in Friday’s final.”

Pallozzi, the UAlbany record holder in this event, reached the NCAA meet with a fifth-place finish at East Regionals on May 26. He placed 10th at last year’s NCAA championships. Gered Burns (Guilderland) competes later today at 6:40 p.m. ET in the 800-meter run.

NCAA Track & Field Championships

Men’s Javelin – Preliminary Round

1. Chris Hill (McNeese State), 238-10, 2. Chad Rodgowski (LSU), 230-07, 3. Aris Borjas (Cal Poly-SLO), 229-04, 4. Alex vanderMerwe (Texas-El Paso), 227-0, 5. Ryan Brandel (Oregon), 226-05, 6. Cody Fillinich (Northwestern State), 224-07, 7. Tanner Evak (Penn State), 224-02, 8. Adam Montague (North Carolina), 217-11, 9. Justin Ryncavage (North Carolina), 217-10, 10. Matthew Maloney (Tennessee), 216-06, 11. Marc Pallozzi (UAlbany), 216-02, 12. Preston Chatham (LSU), 214-02.