Cade Antonucci of Auburn and Andrew Liskowitz of Michigan, a pair of throwers from New Jersey, each earned All-American honors with sensational performances on the opening day of the NCAA Division Championships on Wednesday night at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Antonucci, who starred at Holy Spirit High School, not only came up with the best throw of his life, but the greatest throw in Auburn history when he unloaded the spear 249-10 on his next to last throw in the final round to secure a third-place finish, and earn a berth in the U.S. Olympic Trials later this month at Hayward Field. The Olympic Trials standard is 246-0.
Antonucci, a senior who shattered the Auburn school record of 243-9 set this past April by teammate Nils Fischer at the LSU Alumni Gold Meet, was the the No. 8 seed coming into the meet, but he exceeded all expectations with his massive PR of nearly nine feet. Antonucci's previous best was a 241-0 that he threw at the Pepsi Florida Relays in April.
Antonucci, the first Auburn athlete to compete in the men's javelin three times at the NCAA Championships, finished 24th in 2018, and 21st in 2019. Antonucci's 249-10 is No. 10 on the U.S. list this season, and moves into the No. 8 spot on the NJ all-time alumni list.
Liskowitz, a graduate student who starred in the circle at Christian Brothers Academy, placed fourth for Michigan in the shot put with a throw of 65-10.25 to notch the sixth All-American honor of his amazing career as a Wolverine. Liskowitz, who was competing in his seventh straight NCAA Championship meet between indoors and outdoors and fourth straight outdoor meet.
The finish by Liskowitz is his best ever at an NCAA meet, and is the highest for a Wolverine since in the shot put indoors or outdoors since Dave Owens won the outdoor title in 1957.
Liskowitz is Michigan's school record-holder in the shot put, both indoors (68-11.75) and outdoors (67-11), and captured three Big Ten titles during his decorated career. Not bad for a walk-on!
Liskowitz will be back in the circle at Hayward Field later this month when he competes at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Also competing in the shot put was Tennessee's Jordan West, a redshirt sophomore out of Rahway High. West, Tennessee's school record holder indoor (65-6.75) and outdoors (65-1.50) earned Second-Team All-American by placing 13th with a 61-5.
Clemson junior Giano Roberts, who starred at North Bergen High, advanced to Friday's finals in the 110m hurdles by running 13.59, the fifth fastest time of the semifinals,
Rutgers teammates Taj Burgess (Carteret High) and A'nan Bridgett (West Windosr-Plainsboro South High) also notched Second-Team All-American finishes. Burgess, a senior finished 15th in semifinals of the 400 in 46.64 as he became an All-American for the third time. Bridgett soared 24-10.50 to place 12th in the long jump.
Cory Poole and Akeem Lindo of North Carolina A&T, who were teammates at East Orange Campus, failed to advance. Lindo ran 52.36 in the 400 hurdles, and Poole went 13.75 in the 110 hurdles.
Brandon Tubby of the University of North Carolina (Hillsborough High) didn't advance after running 3:41.33 in the 1500 semifinals.
Jordan Torney of UConn (Manchester Township High), is currently in 20th place in the decathlon standings with the remaining five events scheduled for Thursday. Torney ran 11.05 in the 100 dash, leaped 23-2 in the long jump, threw 40-7 in the shot put, cleared 6-1.25 in the high jump, and was disqualified in the 400.
Luis Peralta of the the University of Oregon (Passaic High) placed 19th in 1:49.79.
Brian Sagendorf of Mt. St. Mary's (Union Catholic High School) finished 24th in the javelin with a throw of 177-11.