RJ Decker is NCAA Finals bound after taking ninth place at East Regionals

LEXINGTON, KY - Senior thrower RJ Decker has dreamed of this moment since he was a kid. MAAC Champion, East Regional qualifier, and now NCAA outdoor track and field championships qualifier in the hammer throw. Decker came up with a 65.85 meter toss to grab ninth place in the men's hammer throw at the NCAA East Regional held at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Facility on Wednesday morning. Decker, a native of Otisville, N.Y., has punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships and will compete in the men's hammer throw event on June 5th at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

-Decker is one of 12 hammer throwers on the men's side of the NCAA East Regional to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The other 12 will punch their ticket through the West Regional held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

-Senior Alex Kristeller wrapped up his season with another impressive showing in Lexington. This time, he finished 16th in the men's hammer throw with a far distance of 63.60 meters. 

-The last Manhattan track and field athlete before Decker to qualify for the NCAA Championships was Ire Bozovicar, who in 2018 qualified for the men's discus and took 22nd place with a throw of 51.46 meters. 

-The NCAA track and field championships will run from June 5-8 at Hayward Field and will air on ESPN networks.