KINGSVILLE, Texas--Improving with each throw in the preliminary round, Western Oregon University's Darian Wilson returned to the podium with a sixth-place finish in the women's javelin throw at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships on Saturday. 

Entered the meet ranked No. 17 out of the 23 national qualifiers in the field, Wilson secured her status to finals with a 151-18 (46.24m) on her third attempt of the initial series. One of only two throwers from the opening section to break to finals, Wilson went on to unleash a career-best distance of 155-0 (47.25m) on her sixth and final toss of the day. 

Wilson's previous career best was a 154-5 (47.07m) set at the GNAC Championships last season. After taking seventh place at nationals a year ago as a true freshman, Wilson improved her national finish by two places to give Western Oregon three points towards the team standings. 

Wilson was one of three throwers to repeat All-American performance from 2018. A third-place finisher a year ago, Northwest Nazarene's Ellie Logan held the top mark through five throws on Saturday only to be usurped by Missouri Southern's Morgan Ash, 168-8 to 165-2, for the national title. 

The new career distance also moved Wilson into the No. 3 position on WOU's all-time outdoor performance list and closed to within four feet of Amanda Schumaker's school record of 158-11 from the 2012 season. 

2019 NCAA DII All-Americans - Women's Javelin
1. Morgan Ash, Missouri Southern, 168-8 (51.41m)
2. Ellie Logan, Northwest Nazarene, 165-2 (50.34m)
3. Shelby Edwards, Washburn, 162-9 (49.62m)*
4. Talena Morray, Angelo State, 161-11 (49.35m)
5. Sharon Roako, New Mexico Highlands, 161-4 (49.18m)*
6. Darian Wilson, Western Oregon, 155-0 (47.25m)*
7. Katelyn Mooney, Missouri Southern, 153-0 (46.63m)
8. Morgan DeFloria, Shippensburg, 151-5 (46.17m)

*career bests