Senior Thrower Postema Selected Two-Event All-American

DEFIANCE, Ohio – An outstanding career came to a conclusion this past Memorial Day weekend. DC's senior Tom Postema was named U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American in the discus and hammer throw, after his performance at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor National Championships. [Release]

On Thursday, May 23, the Tinora High product started off the championships with a second-place finish in the discus. Postema notched a distance of 54.42 meters on his final throw and secured his top outing in the event. This was the thrower's second time earning All-American honors in the discus, after receiving the same accolade in 2012.

Postema then came through with his best performance on Friday, May 24. Coming into the hammer throw, the Defiance, Ohio, native had been ranked number one in the nation for almost the entire season and left no doubt that he was the best in the country. The senior became the first male national champion in Defiance College history, when he launched his All-American toss of 64.67 meters for the title. Postema dominated the competition, racking up a distance that was 3.21m longer then the next best mark. The distance was his second best of the season and only three other athletes have recorded a longer mark in Div. III history.

The pair of All-American honors combined with his 2013 indoor season selection in the weight throw and his 2012 discus accolade gave Postema four to conclude his Purple and Gold career. His total is the most ever by an athlete in Yellow Jacket history.

In what is arguably the best season for a DC track and field athlete, Postema received other numerous awards including Indoor and Outdoor Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Year, U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year, USTFCCCA Div. III National Male Athlete of the Week, All-Ohio, First Team All-HCAC and DC Male Athlete of the Year.

Postema leaves Defiance as the record holder in each of the five events he competed in over the indoor and outdoor seasons. His amazing marks include the indoor shot put (16.99 meters), weight throw (20.72m), outdoor shot put (17.04m), discus (56.27m) and hammer throw (65.80m). The thrower also departs with the HCAC Championship records in the indoor shot put, weight throw, discus and hammer throw.