GENEVA, Ohio -- Competing in his NCAA Championship debut, first-year Gavin Schmidt of the Amherst College men's track and field team finished 17th in the nation in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday, hosted at the SPIRE Institute's Outdoor Track & Field facility. 

Coming into the meet seeded 21st, Schmidt's first attempt of 44.55m secured a 17th-place finish, just one place shy of All-America Second Team honors. Holding Amherst's program record in the event, Schmidt was the only NESCAC athlete to qualify for the discus. 

Sophomore Parker Boyle will represent the Mammoths and compete in the 800m prelims tomorrow at 4 p.m.