ALLENDALE, Mich. – The top nine marks advanced to the women's javelin final at the 2014 NCAA Div. II Outdoor Track and Field Track Championships, Western Oregon University student-athlete Seabre Church slid into the final as the ninth mark. She then tossed the third best throw of the day at the time, before finishing as an All-American in fifth place.
Church finished her remarkable career at Western Oregon with the dramatic finish. The senior's second throw of 144-7 (44.06 meters) proved to be just enough to qualify for the finals.
As the last mark to advance, she threw first in the finals, and her fourth throw was her best. Church reached back and tossed 156-3 (47.63m) in the first throw of the finals.
Church's top throw was the third best in the event at the time. She also topped her previous personal record of 155-9 (47.48m). The Florence, Ore. native, improved her second best mark on the WOU all-time list. Church entered with the eighth best seed mark of the 21-woman field.
Four-time All-America, Amanda Schumaker, remains the school record-holder at 158-11. Schumaker placed sixth last season at the national championships, after placing third in 2012.
The Wolves have now had five consecutive All-American finishes in the women's javelin. Last year, Church placed 14th with a throw of 138-1. She was 12th at 136-1 as a sophomore in 2012.
Fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference member, Western Washington, swept the top two spots this season. Bethany Drake won the national title with a throw of 165-3 (50.36m) on her first attempt in the finals. Katie Reichert threw reached 50 meters for the first time with her last toss of the day at 165-2 (50.34m).
Church's previous top mark of 155-9 (47.48m) was thrown at the OSU Invitational on March 7. It was the third-best throw in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and eighth-ranked toss in NCAA Div. II this year. She finished second at the GNAC Championship.
