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PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Pacific Lutheran University women's track & field student-athlete Ava Nelson made history on Thursday, becoming the program's first-ever four-year NCAA All-American. Nelson's historic moment came after placing seventh in the javelin in day one of the 2023 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Saint John Fisher University's Polisseni Track & Field Complex.

"We're incredibly proud of Ava's career at PLU," said Head Coach Trey Henderson.

"I know she would say she wanted a higher finish today but battled through knee pain early in the competition and put herself in an All-American spot."

Nelson opened the day with a throw of 131 feet, 10 inches and sat ninth overall before uncorking a toss of 137' 3" in her third and final throw of the preliminaries. That mark propelled the senior to fifth overall heading into the finals.

The Mossyrock, Washington native fouled her first throw in the finals before collecting marks of 130' 7" and 134' 9" to place seventh overall for her fourth career All-American certificate.

Nelson etched her name in the record books, becoming PLU's first four-year NCAA All-American in women's track & field and the program's first four-year All-American since Sandy Metzger was a four-year NAIA All-American from 1993 to 1996.

"To finish her career as a national champion, four-time All-American, and three-time Northwest Conference Champion speaks for itself."

Nelson finished seventh at the NCAA Championships in 2019 and 2021 while winning the national title last spring. Nelson owns the school record in the javelin was the Northwest Conference Champion in the Javelin in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

The Lutes are back in action tomorrow with Masum Real competing in the shot put.