EUGENE, OREGON- Amidst a packed Hayward Field in Track Town USA, Evelyn Bliss delivered one of her best performances and earned the crown of United States Women’s Javelin National Champion. The Bison javelineer delivered the second-best throw of her career, 57.77m (189-6) to win the gold medal and reign supreme as the nation’s greatest javelin thrower.

“I feel on top of the world right now!” said Bliss. “I have had the most amazing past two weeks. I am so blessed for all the support and sacrifices that my coach and my parents have made. Two weeks ago, I would not have thought this is where I would be at but by the Grace of God I am. It’s all His glory I compete for!”

Bliss’ winning toss arrived in the third round and, despite the deep and talented pool, held up as the winning distance. The rising junior nimbly darted up the runway, and overcoming her troublesome left knee, planted expertly into the ground and flung the weapon across the blue Oregon sky. Bliss knew she hurled a great throw and the measurements confirmed it.

The golden throw did not occur in a vacuum. Bliss’ first attempt flew 54.28m (178-1) – a mark which would have placed sixth. Her second chance backtracked to 48.96m (160-7) but the slight decrease did not discourage the steady star.

She followed up her best throw with the third-best measurement of her career at 57.53m (188-9). That distance would also have won the competition. Her fifth chance flew a respectable 53.74m (176-4).

Madison Wiltrout, stationed in fourth place, was the last thrower before Bliss. Her final chance unlocked her best toss of the day at 56.46m (185-3). It was a great throw and earned Wiltrout silver but its pyrite distance sealed Bliss’ goal medal.

Bliss sported a sly smile as she approached the runway for her final toss. She conjured the Hayward crowd into a massive victory chant and uncorked her final throw. The attempt caught too much air and Bliss deliberately faulted. She then raced to the stands to celebrate with Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman. The two Bison embraced for nearly a minute as the moment’s emotion and realization hit them.

“What a week, it has been for Evie,” said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner. “She is a National Champion only a week after her silver medal at the FISU World University Games in Germany. Definitely peaking at the right time. Congratulations to Coach Protzman, who had her well-prepared.”

Her performance on July 26 at the FISU Games propelled the thrower with additional momentum. Bliss uncorked the farthest throw of her career – 60.81m (199-6) – at the competition and led for the most of the finals before being passed in the final round. She ensured that the experience did not repeat itself tonight.

The short timeframe between the two high-powered competitions only enhances Bliss’ victory. Entering the competition as the number one seed due to the 60.81 throw, which is also the best American toss of 2025, she had little chance for rest between Germany and Eugene. The thrower went from six hours ahead to three hours behind from her normal Eastern Standard Time existence, but as she admitted earlier this week, “she was living on her time.”

With the gold medal, the United States is now living on Bliss time.

Coach Protzman was effervescent in his praise of his protégé, “United States Champion. Wow! That’s amazing. A national title for Evie Bliss, for Bucknell Track & Field, and for Bucknell University. A week ago, she was six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. She then flew to Eugene where she was three hours behind Eastern Standard Time. She locked into mentally and physically prepping and got herself ready after a few days in Eugene. I’m so proud of her for settling in, embracing the challenge, and thriving. She met adversity face-to-face and came on top. Best in the USA!”

Protzman deserves immense credit for Bliss’ development. The throws coach has worked tirelessly to advance, refine, and mentally grow Bliss’ ability and mindset. She and Protzman sat down and hammered out a career path with the necessary steps to obtain those goals. The planning and results have paid off with two All-American laurels, multiple medals in international competitions, and now the United States National Championship.

Part of the journey included Bliss traveling from idolizing her javelin heroes to emulating their accomplishments. Kara Winger, the American javelin record holder, won the National Championship eight times. She and Bliss shared the Hayward Field runway at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials. Now, Bliss joined Winger in American history as a national champion. An achievement almost unfathomable to the 20-year-old less than two campaigns ago.

The Bucknell phenom entered the competition needing to surpass Madelyn Harris, Ariana Ince, and Wiltrout for the best sporting chance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships while hoping all three under-performed. Wiltrout hit several good throws and Harris finished fifth at 55.17m (181-0). Ince was sixth but only threw 52.70m (172-11).

Despite the victory, Bliss is not guaranteed a ticket to Tokyo. She would have needed to hit 64 meters to unlock the automatic qualifier and now must wait to see if her score gains entrance. She entered today 62nd with 1045 points. Several competitions for her opposition await, but even if the road to Tokyo is barricaded, the 2025 campaign has been scrapbook worthy for the Bison superstar. She won five straight collegiate events, set and reset the Bucknell school record, repeated as Patriot League champion and All-American, and added two more medals to her burgeoning treasure chest.

Hayward Field sits 2,684 miles away from Bucknell but the historic stadium has become Bliss’ second home. She has thrown six times at Track Town USA – one more than her appearances at Bucknell’s West Fields Throwing Complex. Bliss said earlier in the week that she hoped this event would be lucky number six. Her wish came true, which should not have been a surprise to those familiar with Bison lore, as Christy Mathewson, Bucknell’s most famous alum, had the nickname Big Six.

Should the Tokyo invitation prove fleeting, Bliss will rest her left knee and prepare for the 2026 outdoor season surrounded with memories of her sensational 2025 summer and the knowledge that she is the best in America.