Rowan junior Damitrius Hester bombed the 4th-best javelin throw in NCAA Division 3 history Friday in Daytona Beach.
Hester, who was 7th all-time with his 236-4 two weeks ago in Galloway Township, won the javelin at the Embry Riddle Classic with a monster throw of 240-5.
Hester had a monster series, with three throws of 236 or better. After opening up modestly with 222-2, 219-7 and 225-6, he threw 240-5, 236-1 and 238-8 in the finals. His six throws averaged 230-5.
Hester’s 240-5 is the best throw by a D-3 thrower in eight years, since Seth Nonnenmacher of George Fox University of Newberg, Ore., threw 241-11 to win 2018 NCAA Division 3 Nationals in LaCrosse, Wisc.
Deptford’s Tim VanLiew set the D-3 record of 247-10 competing for Rutgers-Camden when he won 2013 D-3 Nationals, also in LaCrosse.
No. 2 all-time is Kris Theriault of Fitchburg [Mass.] State, who threw 242-5 at the 1995 D-3 Nationals in Northfield, Minn.
Hester’s throw makes him No. 9 American this year and No. 69 in the world. He’s No. 8 among all college throwers this year from all divisions.
He’s also now No. 11 on the all-time New Jersey alumni list:
287-11 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], March 28, 2025, Austin
261-2 … Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], June 15, 1990, Norwalk, Calif.
261-2 … Tim VanLiew [Deptford], May 21, 2016, Tucson, Ariz.
259-7 … Bob Roggy [Holmdel], June 7, 1986, Eugene, Ore.
251-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], April 29, 2017, Philadelphia
250-11 … John Amabile [Wall Twp.], May 31, 1987, Piscataway
250-2 … Gerard Langlois [Madison Central], June 10, 1995, Piscataway
249-6 … Bobby Smith [Hopatcong], July 6, 2008, Eugene, Ore.
246-8 … Kevin Burr [Rancocas Valley], May 2, 2025, Knoxville
241-0 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], April 2, 2021, Gainesville, Fla.
240-5 … Damitrius Hester [Mahwah], April 3, 2026, Daytona Beach, Fla.
236-5 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], March 27-30, 2019, Austin, Texas
241-4 … Brandon Anthony Heroux [Westfield], June 7, 2012, Des Moines, Iowa
Hester placed 2nd at NCAA Division 3 Championships last spring in Geneva, Ohio, at 218-4. Hester is a graduate of Mahwah High, located about a mile and a half from Ramapo College, which will host the NJAC Outdoor Championships next month.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 