PUEBLO, Colo. – Emory & Henry University junior Gavin Lee made history on Thursday afternoon as the first NCAA Division II National Championships participant in school history.

The North Tazewell, Virginia native finished in 10th place in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Colorado State University Pueblo at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.

After fouling on his first throw, Lee put a mark of 55.35 meters to sit in eighth place. His third throw vaulted him up the leaderboard into first at the end of the first flight at 58.68 meters. The second flight saw Lee drop to 10th place, one place short of earning an additional three throws.

Lee is the first individual NCAA Qualifier for Emory & Henry since Michaela Nolte reached the NCAA Division III Women's Swimming Championships in 2016 and 2017.

In addition to being the first NCAA Qualifier in the University's Division II era, Lee is also the Emory & Henry male athlete to qualify for the national stage since Troy Chandler competed at the 1987 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships where he earned All-America honors in the discus.

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