Bates College

Sophomore Adedire Fakorede capped his remarkable indoor track and field season by finishing third in the 35-pound weight throw at the NCAA Division III Championships on Friday, gaining his first career All-America honor in his NCAA debut.

With his final attempt of 18.83 meters, or 61-9.5, Fakorede (Newark, N.J.) leaped over Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior Alex Mess and Widener senior Thomas Zamorski from fifth to third place, and neared his season-best mark of 62-6 from last week. 

He entered the event finals with the seventh-best mark through trials, at 17.60 meters. His first attempt in the finals sailed 18.03 meters, and he moved into fifth place with his next and penultimate attempt of 18.50 meters.

Fakorede got spectators going in a slow clap prior to his final attempt, which soared 18.83 meters and landed him in third place.

He becomes the 39th student-athlete in Bates men's track and field history to earn All-America honors, and the 16th man to do so in the weight throw.

Fakorede ranks seventh on Bates' all-time performance list in the weight and he has set Bates' sophomore record in the weight twice this season, passing former teammate and nine-time All-American Sean Enos. Meanwhile, Fakorede was recently elected Student Body President as a write-in candidate.