From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Down to his final attempt and needing a lifetime best to move into the lead, Rowan junior Dametrius Hester bombed the 2^nd-longest javelin throw in NCAA Division 3 history Saturday to win his first national title after two top-three finishes.

After three throws, Hester led the javelin at the Division 3 Championships in La Crosse, Wisc., with a 236-11, but moments later senior Liam Bourasisa of Fitchburg [Mass.] State – who had a PR of 227-8 coming into the meet – took the lead with a shocking 241-3, a nearly 14-foot PR and the No. 5 throw in D-3 history.

After that improbable throw, Hester had three chances to reclaim the lead, but after a 239-7 on his 4^thattempt and a 231-0 on his 5^th, he was down to one last chance.

Hester, who set his PR of 240-9 at the NJAC Championships earlier this month in his hometown of Mahwah, would need to PR to win.

And he did.

On his final throw of the season, Hester threw the javelin 245 feet, 10 inches to deny Bourassa to become Rowan’s first national javelin champion since Matawan’s Ed Colleton in 1998 in St. Paul, Minn.

The only superior throw in D-3 history happened 13 years ago in the same meet at the same track. Deptford’s Tim VanLiew of Rutgers-Camden won the 2013 D-3 title with a 247-10, which remains the meet record and top throw in Division 3 history.

Hester’s throw is No. 7 on the all-time New Jersey alumni list. It’s also No. 7 among U.S. men this year.

Hester placed 3^rd as a freshman at the 2024 D-3 meet in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with a throw of 213-3. He was 2^nd last year in Geneva, Ohio, at 218-4.

On Saturday, Hester opened with a 206-2 and then a 225-5 before his 236-11 temporarily moved him into the lead. Bourassa’s 2^nd-best throw was a 231-7 on his final throw, so Hester accounted for four of the six-best throws of the competition.

Hester is Rowan’s 2^nd national champion of the weekend. Freshman David Brown from Edison won the high jump at 7-0 ½ on Friday. Hester’s 10 points gave Rowan 31 through the javelin, five fewer than leader and host Wisconsin La Crosse.

Hester is Rowan’s fourth javelin national champion.

Converted baseball player Mike Juskus, who never competed in track at Hopatcong High School, won in 1978, 1980 and 1981 and also won the 1981 Division 1 title back when the D-3 winners were invited to the D-1 meet. Burlington City’s Mike Boone won the javelin in 1992 and Colleton won in 1998.