Peters repeats as champion with another meet record, leading Bulldogs taking top three spots, becoming first program since Oregon in 1964 to achieve the feat; Piperi pumps up host crowd with shot put crown, Harrison and Haugh also capture titles

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

AUSTIN – Curtis Thompson built the foundation with a men’s javelin throw championship in 2016.

He watched Anderson Peters and Nicolas Quijera elevate Mississippi State’s national profile with a 1-2 finish at last year’s NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships.

So, it was only fitting that in his final collegiate competition, as a fifth-year senior, Thompson would be part of history for the Bulldogs once again.

Peters, Thompson and freshman Tyriq Horsford became the first trio since Oregon in 1964 to sweep the top three spots in the javelin final Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

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Peters, representing Grenada, surpassed his own meet record with a third-round effort of 284 feet, 2 inches (86.62m) to repeat as champion, with Thompson throwing 257-3 (78.43m) in the first round and Horsford moving into third with a third-round mark of 248 feet (75.59m).

“It feels really good to be part of a team that was able to go 1-2-3 in the javelin,” said Peters, who boasts seven of the top 11 throws in collegiate history as the No. 3 all-time performer.

“I’m proud of myself and I’m proud of my teammates. I’m proud of everyone who was part of the competition.”

And a significant moment for Thompson, who not only celebrated the sweep, but his fourth career All-America first-team accolade under the guidance of Mississippi State throws coach April Thomas.

Thompson, the reigning USATF Outdoor champion, finished third as a freshman in 2015, becoming the Bulldogs’ first All-America first-team honoree since 1923, followed by the title in 2016 and a seventh-place finish behind Quijera’s runner-up honors in 2017.

“It’s my last collegiate meet, so it’s good to go out on a high note,” Thompson said. “It’s a very special moment. Things like this, you just can’t take for granted. Throwing with these two, it’s a wonderful feeling just being a part of it.”

When Horsford moved ahead of Utah State’s three-time All-America first-team performer Sindri Gudmundsson in the third round to put Mississippi State in position to produce the historic sweep, it was a profound moment for the Trinidad and Tobago standout in his national finals debut.

“I was quite elated,” Horsford said. “I take a lot of pride in this one because it is my first national meet here, so doing it with these guys my freshman year, it’s amazing.”

In addition to joining Oregon, which also swept the top three spots in the 1,500 in 2010, Mississippi State became one of only five men’s programs in Division 1 history to accomplish the feat in any event.

Peters also became connected with Oregon by securing the first back-to-back titles since Sam Crouser repeated for the Ducks since 2014-15.

“It also feels really good to throw 86 meters again, but I didn’t quite accomplish my goal for the season yet, which is to get into the 90-meter section, so I’m looking forward to the international season,” Peters said. “I believe this is a special stadium for javelin throwers. I think most javelin throwers look forward to competing here. I’ve been excited to compete here all season, so I think it’s a special place for the javelin.”

Perhaps the most special moment Thursday came from Texas sophomore Adrian Piperi in the shot put, delivering a second-round effort of 69-3.25 (21.11m) that not only won the title for the host Longhorns, but achieved the program’s first championship in the event since Ryan Crouser in 2013-14.

“(The moment after winning) was great. I can’t really explain that much, I was just ecstatic. I’ve been thinking about that for weeks, just being able to look up to the stands and be like, ‘I did it here at home. I did it for y’all.’ That type of feeling is unbeatable, especially now.”

Piperi prevailed against last year’s outdoor champion Denzel Comenentia of Georgia, who had a fourth-round mark of 68-1.75 (20.77m), along with collegiate leader Jordan Geist of Arizona, who produced a third-round effort of 66-7.75 (20.31m).

He also knocked off North Dakota State fifth-year senior Payton Otterdahl, the reigning indoor shot put champion, who had a first-round mark of 65-3.25 (19.89m).

“I don’t think people are used to this heat and humidity, so that’s always a plus, and I’ve got a lot of my family and friends here to support me,” Piperi said. “I wouldn’t say those are the biggest factors, but it was nice having them here and being able to show out for the fans and being at home, it’s great.”

As a result of having his indoor eligibility exhausted, but having one more outdoor season to compete following his transfer from Alabama, Kennesaw State senior Daniel Haugh had already captured a USATF Indoor title in February in the weight throw, before taking his final aim at a hammer throw championship.

Haugh made history Thursday by securing Kennesaw State’s first national title with a fifth-round throw of 244-10 (74.63m), prevailing against Kansas junior Gleb Dudarev, who produced a third-round effort of 242-5 (73.88m).

“The only thought that comes to mind is thankful,” said Haugh, a native of Kennesaw, Ga.

“Thankful for the Lord who makes this possible, thankful for my parents, my coaching staff, my friends and family who believe in me and push me day in and day out. None of this would be possible without the community that I am surrounded with on a daily basis. It’s awesome to give this back to Kennesaw State for the opportunity they gave me.”

LSU sophomore JuVaughn Harrison couldn’t wait for his next opportunity at a national title in the long jump after placing 19th at last year’s outdoor final, followed by a 10th-place result in March at the indoor championships in Birmingham, Ala.

With teammate and reigning indoor long jump champion Rayvon Grey placing 21st in Thursday’s final, Harrison rose to the occasion to produce a personal-best wind-legal 26-11 (8.20m) effort in the second round to capture LSU’s first crown since Damar Forbes in 2013.

“To be able to come out here and compete well and win for my team was a really big accomplishment for me,” Harrison said. “I went out early in indoor and I didn’t do well last year, so to come out here and win, it’s just heaven.”

The competition marked the first time since 1989 when the final was held at the altitude of Provo, Utah, that five athletes jumped 8.00 meters or better, with Houston’s Trumaine Jefferson placing second with a second-round mark of 26-10 (8.18m).

“I definitely thought I was going to have to go better (than 8.20m) with the way the competition was going, but then it started slowing down because the equipment wasn’t working,” Harrison said. “I guess it worked out in my favor, but I felt like it was going to be a little farther.

“I’m very proud of the achievement. It was a goal of mine coming into the season to be able to come out here and win nationals, and to be able to come out and do it, I’m just happy. I feel really good about it.”

Georgia sophomore Johannes Erm produced a first-day total of 4,345 points to secure the lead in the decathlon.

Stanford senior Harrison Williams, who captured the indoor heptathlon title in March, is second with 4,266 and Kent State junior TJ Lawson is third with 4,216 points.