Men's Track and Field | 5/22/2015 3:34:00 PM

Meet website | Live results
CANTON, N.Y. -- Junior thrower Luis Rivera rose to the occasion yet again Friday as he saved his best performance for last at the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships at St. Lawrence University's Merrick-Pinkard Track & Field Complex.

Competing in the hammer throw, Rivera finished eighth to become Nazareth's first-ever outdoor field All-American. Entered as the last qualifier in the 20-man field, Rivera shattered his school record for the fifth time this spring with a heave of 58.58 meters (192 feet, 2 inches). That was more than four feet beyond his qualifying distance of 187 feet, 11 inches that he achieved at St. Lawrence three weeks ago.

Rivera had throws of 57.48 and 57.89 meters in the prelims to finish in the top nine and to reach the finals. He broke his record yet again with his next-to-last throw in the finals.

"Luis always gets fired up for these big meets," said Nazareth Coach James Goss. "He came with the idea that he wanted to do better than his previous mark and that if he did that the place would take care of itself."

Rivera's performance capped a strong all-around year that also included a record-shattering indoor season. He also earned All-American honors indoors in the 35-pouind weight throw by placing sixth in that event at the national meet in March.

Nazareth senior Hannah Brackley also competed Friday and finished 16th in the 400-meter dash, but failed to reach Saturday's final despite a time of :57.05. It marked the final race of Brackley's honor-laden career that includes school records in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes as well as nine Empire 8 outdoor titles and five indoor titles.