EUGENE, ORE. — Fresh off winning a silver medal at the 2025 FISU World University Games, Bucknell’s star javelin thrower Evelyn Bliss seeks national glory this Thursday at the 2025 Toyota United States Track and Field Championships. The competition, held at track and field’s metropolis of Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, helps determine participation in the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

The women’s javelin starts at 6:30 p.m.

Bliss’ showing at the FISU Games was unequivocally the best of her young career, posting four of her all-time top ten throws, including her new personal best and new Bucknell school record of 60.81 meter (199 feet, 6 inches). That distance arrived in the qualifying round and was the finest of a deep, international pool.

She led most of the finals with her 57.37m (188-2) throw-the second best of her career, before Turkey’s Esra Turkmen passed her in the last round.

Her 60.81 throw achieved contemporary and historical importance. No American javelineer has thrown further in 2025 and the toss ranks tenth in United States history.

From Germany’s six hours ahead to Oregon’s three hours behind, Bliss is living on her time.

“I’ve gotten to Eugene and I’m getting settled in and ready to compete just keeping the ball rolling and loving the post season,” she said.

Bliss contumaciously avoided the dreaded sophomore slump in 2025, after her record-breaking freshman campaign. Instead, the rising junior upped her game. She won five straight events during the collegiate season, repeated as Patriot League champion, finished first at the NCAA East First Round, breaking Bucknell legend Maura Fiamoncini’s school record with a throw of 57.06m (187-2), and then earned second-team All-American honors again at the NCAA Championships.

Her FISU performance boosted Bliss among the top seeds in the 12-woman field. The field boasts several other throwers on the American top ten list, including Ariana Ince (64.38m) and Madison Wiltrout (61.17m), who sit fourth and eighth respectively in American history. Ince set her mark in 2022 and Wiltrout hit the distance at last year’s Olympic Trials – a competition where Bliss established her previous personal record of 55.82m (183-2).

Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman was unable to accompany Bliss to Germany, but he is present in Eugene for the national championships.

“Great to be back in Eugune for the US National Championships,” said Protzman.”You just feel the momentum building in Tracktown USA and the Paralympics has joined the fun this year. So, there is great energy out here. We are just keeping everything consistent to what she has been working on. The key factor is making sure she is physically and mentally ready to go. It’s great going in with the best mark in the United States but you have to be able to show up and get the job done. Regardless of outcome, I’ll take Bliss in that situation every time.”