Elsner strikes gold on first throw of day, wins discus title

2018 NCAA Division III Discus Results

LA CROSSE (May 24, 2018) - UW-Stout's Sam Elsner didn't waste any time at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

The Blue Devil senior uncorked a school record toss of 191-feet, 7-inches to win the discus on his first attempt of the day, dominating the field and winning the event by nearly 13 feet at UW-La Crosse's Veteran Memorial Stadium Thursday.

Elsner, the top seed in the event, would have won the event with any of the four marks that were measured. The second place finish by Legend Hayes of Christopher Newport measured 178-8.  Elsner faulted on his second and fourth throws, but counted marks of 189-1, 180-3.50 and 189-6.

"I was just trying to get rid of the jitters," Elsner said. "When I stepped in, I felt my heart pounding harder than I usually feel. It surprised me (that the best throw) was my very first throw."

Elsner said patience is key in the discus, and that's what he was trying to keep in mind for the remainder of the throws.

"Throughout this last week of practice, all of my throws were in the 55-60 meter range," Elsner said. "I wasn't trying to do anything different."

Elsner's throw broke the school record of 185-2 set by Austin Zett in 2015. Elsner is the second Blue Devil to win the national discus title. Sean Larson won the discus in 2010. Elsner earned All-America honors in the discus in 2014 when he finished eighth. Elsner is the sixth WIAC athlete to win the national discus title.

Stout freshman Kevin Ruechel also competed in the discus, placing 13th in his first national competition with a distance of 155-11.

Elsner will compete Friday in the shot put and Saturday in the hammer throw.

"I just need to take it one day at a time," Elsner said about the next two days of competition. "Right after the awards ceremony, I hit the reset button."