Fort Hays State junior javelin thrower Makayla McPhail has been named the MIAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for her efforts this past weekend at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays.

In her first competition of the spring, McPhail won the women’s javelin competition at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays. Her throw of 154’5″ is second best in the nation, just four inches off the best throw in the nation so far this year. She broke her own meet record with the throw and was just five inches off her own stadium record.

The distance is an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships as she is now one of four athletes with an automatic qualifying mark in the event.

McPhail was the national runner-up in the javelin last year.