GENEVA, Ohio -- Bates junior Liam Byrne took 12th place out of 20 competitors in the hammer throw Saturday at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Byrne (Ridgefield, Conn.) entered the event seeded 19th, based on his career-best throw of 182-9 (55.71m) at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships. While he just missed a personal record, Byrne easily surpassed his seeding with his top throw of 179-07 (54.75m) on Saturday, landing him a solid 12th in the field. 

Making his NCAA Championships debut in the hammer, Byrne did not foul on any of his three attempts, saving his best for last. The New England Division III champion in the hammer throw this year, Byrne is set up for a strong senior season, having completed his first year of track and field at Bates that wasn't cut short in some way by the pandemic.