Pascal sets national record at NCAA championships

Alexander Pascal makes his record-breaking throw.

Alex Pascal set a new Cayman Islands national record in the javelin at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday, 7 June. Pascal’s throw of 75.38 metres secured him a fourth-place finish for the University of Missouri Tigers.

The mark eclipsed Pascal’s previous national best of 73.72 metres in April 2016 and earned him NCAA First Team All-America honours. It was also the highest place ever for a University of Missouri javelin thrower at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Pascal (U of Missouri photo)

His record-breaking throw was made on his third attempt and ranks him third in Tigers history.

“When I saw the mark on the board, it was like ‘finally’, because I have been working hard all year,” said Pascal, who will represent the Cayman Islands at the NatWest Island Games in Gotland, Sweden later this month.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year and it feels good to overcome it. [I] have to give a lot of credit to those who stuck behind me and believed in me all year,” the 22-year-old junior said.

This was the Caymanian’s second trip to the NCAA championships, after qualifying for the javelin in 2015. Earlier this season, Pascal finished eighth at the SEC Championships with a throw of 66.12 metres and fifth at the NCAA West Preliminary with a throw of 70.22 metres.

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