Monmouth Track & Field’s Evan Niedrowski Prepares for NCAA National Championships at Legendary Hayward Field

"I'm very proud to have Evan punch his ticket to nationals," said Monmouth coach following the regional meet. "He had overcome a lot of adversity the past few years with injuries, and it's great to see him fully recovered and back competing with the best throwers in the country."

It was a long road back for Niedrowski, who spent the last two years rehabbing through an Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tear. A standout in his first two seasons in javelin for the Hawks, his resiliency showed as he returned this past April and delivered one of the best throws of his career before steadily working toward an opportunity to compete amongst the best in the country.

"Given this kind of year after coming off an injury and missing the last two years, I'm just coming out here and doing what I love again," Niedrowski said. "No matter the result or outcome of what happens, I'm going to be grateful for this season. There was a chance I wasn't going to be good enough to go and then we kind of had a day out in Princeton and I realized my arm was good to go, so regardless of the outcome it's going to be super special and I'm looking forward to competing on the big stage here."

The graduate student holds the program record in the javelin with a 74.20-meter throw at the 2023 Larry Ellis Invitational. Since returning in early May, he threw a season best of 71.87m at the CAA Championships, good for 24th-best in DI outdoor track and field, the second-best score in the Mid-Atlantic region and the top mark in the CAA in 2026.

This is the second straight year the Hawks will have a representative in Eugene after Yasmeen Tinsley qualified in the 400m hurdles in 2025, earning Second-Team All-American status and finishing 15^th out of 32 competitors.

"There's nothing like competing with some of the guys out there," Niedrowski added. "I feel like I'm back where I belong mentally. Having to miss those two years sucked. I was out there with my teammates and I just felt terrible. I'm the guy on the side not being able to do their thing - to finally get back out here it's a rewarding feeling."

This is the third time in Niedrowski's career that he is set to participate in the nation's biggest collegiate event, having also thrown at the NCAA Championships in 2022 and 2023, finishing in 11th and 12th place, respectively.

After competing in 2023, the Wyomissing, PA product underwent surgery in 2024, keeping him on the sideline for nearly two years. Niedrowski returned to action on May 1, earning back-to-back gold medals at the Larry Ellis Invitational and the CAA Outdoor Championships before last week's NCAA Regionals.

"He has overcome a lot of adversity the past few years with injuries," continued Torney. "It's great to see him fully recovered and back competing with the best throwers in the country."

Niedrowski made his way back following a two-year recovery after suffering a tear back in April 2024 before having UCL surgery in January of 2025. After a few setbacks, he steadily rehabbed before throwing for the first time in Princeton, NJ. While there, he took home first place after throwing a 68.03 before having just two weeks to prep for the CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where he broke a meet record, throwing a 71.87.

"It actually means a lot me… it was a huge feat to accomplish, especially for me that didn't have an offseason like many of the guys do," he said. "I didn't really get going until mid-April and then May comes around and I only have two weeks of throwing under my belt. I threw that 68 and then we have another two weeks until Elon and we throw a 71 meter throw out there for a meet record, so considering the circumstances I'm super happy for myself and for the guys around me who allowed me to get back to this point. It's been an incredible ride and I'm just enjoying it."

Although Niedrowski is no stranger to the national stage, he heads into the national meet with a different mentality after enduring the adversity he faced, now having the opportunity to return and throw with the best in the country. Men's javelin is set to compete Wednesday at 9:15 p.m. (ET) on ESPN or ESPN2. Live results will be available at NCAA.com.

"One hundred percent," said Niedrowski of soaking in the moment while in Eugene. "I know not every throw is guaranteed, there's only so many meets that are like this and so many opportunities that you can get like this. I will definitely be standing there in the middle of the runway soaking it all in. There's nothing like that facility. Hayward Field is special."

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