Jun 11, 2015 1 min read

EUGENE, Ore. – Wake Forest junior and Hickory native Jessie Merckle placed seventh Thursday in the women’s javelin at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon.

Merckle’s best throw of 174-10 earned her All-America status for the second consecutive year.

A former PIAA champion at Fort Cherry High School, Merckle was one of nine competitors who advanced to the finals. Merckle’s third throw, which traveled 172-3, was enough to land her a spot in the finals. Her first throw of three in the finals was Merckle’s best. The final two attempts produced a throw of 171-3 and a foul.

Virginia Tech’s Irina Sediva won the event on her final throw, tossing 192-9. Texas Tech’s Hannah Carson had led for much of the competition with a throw of 189-4 in the third round.

Auburn junior Shawn Johnson, a Canon-McMillan graduate, will compete in both the men’s high jump and triple jump tonight.