Jalon Simpson Finishes 2nd in Nation at Javelin

Portland High School alum Jalon Simpson finished second in the javelin at the NAIA Outdoor National Track and Field Championship. The finals took place at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Simpson is a sophomore at Olivet Nazarene University, located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He is a member of both the football and the track & field teams.

According to the Olivet Nazarene University Athletics Website, Simpson’s throw of 65.13m (213' 8") landed him 2nd of 25 in the competition.

In an email to The Portland Beacon, Simpson said, “Nationals was a great experience and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to throw this amazing event! Though it wasn't the outcome I was looking for it gives me incentive to reach higher goals and learn from previous ones!”

Per www.naia.org, the winner in the men’s javelin was Hunter Drops from Oregon State with a throw of 65.40m.

Photos courtesy of Olivet Nazarene University Athletics.