Former Lancaster Catholic standout Kyle Smith capped his college career on Saturday with a 17th-place finish in the NCAA Division I javelin finals at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
Central Michigan’s senior lefty, who qualified for the NCAA finals with a PR throw of 219-9 in the eastern regional, had a throw of 211-6 on Saturday.
Oregon junior Sam Crouser uncorked a 252-7 to win gold, edging out runner-up Raymond Dykstra, a junior at Kentucky, who launched a 251-8.
Navy sophomore Jay Stell earned bronze with a throw of 233-11.
Reigning PIAA-AAA champ Jhet Janis, a recent Cocalico grad, will be Crouser’s teammate in the fall; Janis is a Ducks’ recruit.
Smith, meanwhile, made the finals Saturday after finishing ninth in the second heat of throwers. And he wrapped up his college days — which included a stint on Central Michigan’s football team before a neck injury left him competing in track and field only — with a solid showing in the NCAA finals.
Cocalico grad Kyle Felpel, repping Alabama, finishes 12th in shot put finals
