PUEBLO, Colo. -- Sophomore Luke Thierfelder recorded the second-longest javelin throw in school history on his third and final attempt Saturday, to finish 10th overall at the NCAA Division II Men's Track and Field Championship, hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo.

His mark of 64.38m (211'-3") placed him second in the first flight and guaranteed All-America status, but eight of the 10 second-flight competitors threw further, leaving him just one spot -- and 0.41m (15 inches) -- shy of the finals.

On his first attempt, the Gastonia, N.C., native threw 55.85m (183'-3") to stand sixth, then increased his mark to 57.62m (189'-1") on his second try. However, he dropped to seventh place during the round after another competitor passed him. Throwing eighth in the nine-man flight, Thierfelder had fallen to last when he took the runway the third, but jumped all the way to second with his attempt.

Thierfelder, the first male athlete from Belmont Abbey to compete at the championship meet, earned second-team All-America honors for finishing in the top 12.