LEWISBURG — Reigning USA women’s national champion Evelyn Bliss of Rimersburg continued her ascent into the upper stratum of legendary Bucknell athletes by qualifying for the 2025 World Athletics Championships Sept. 19 in Tokyo it was announced Sunday.
Bliss will represent and throw for Team USA at the prestigious competition which runs from September 13-21.
“The past 12 hours have been so overwhelming; I am so lucky that I got to celebrate with my teammates,” said Bliss last weekend after the announcement. “This year has been nothing short of amazing and I am so blessed to have my final meet of the year at the World Championships. This wasn’t something that was expected but I am so excited and blessed for the opportunity! This year has been long and I’ve worked on several things trying to fine tune and stay healthy so I am excited to see how I do!”
Throws coach Ryan Protzman recruited Bliss to Bucknell and the two developed a comprehensive plan for how to make her dreams a reality. Today marked another check mark on the grocery list.
“I guess it was meant to be,” said Protzman. “Tokyo, here we come. It is really hard to process this. I know this is a dream come true for Evelyn, and likewise for myself. I am so glad she chose Bucknell. She proudly represents herself, her family, her teammates, her school, and her country. She is so deserving and worked so hard to call herself a World Championships qualifier.
“In the sport of track and field, there are two competitions that are the most prestigious — The Olympic Games and the World Championships,” said Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner. “To make the World Championships team and represent your country is every athlete’s dream and goal. Evie has had a huge year, especially during the summer. She will represent Bucknell and the United State proudly. We are so proud of her.”
Bliss finished 35th in the world rankings with the distinct designation of NACAC (North American, Central American, and Caribbean Championships) Champion, and an average score of 1,117 points. The world rankings utilize a complicated formula of distance, finishes, and meet hierarchy to determine the value of each thrower’s best five marks in a calendar year.
The calendar year stretched from August 2024-August 2025. Bliss’ entries were exceptional in that all five arrived in the last four months starting with the 2025 NCAA East First Round (May 29). However, her best four throws arrived in a three-week period stretching from July 25 to August 16.
Her throw of 57.06 meters (187 feet, 2 inches) at the NCAA East First Round started Bliss’ scorching streak. The mark broke three-time All-American Maura Fiamoncini’s school record and earned Bliss 1,024 points.
Next came her magnificent week where she traveled to Germany on July 25-26 for the 2025 FISU World University Games. She broke her personal and school record in the qualifying round with a mighty heave of 60.81 (199 feet, 6 inches). The distance landed Bliss 1,093 points.
In the finals, she won silver, tossing 57.37 (188-2). The 1,029 base ducats received 80 additional points due to placement.
With scarcely any time for rest, Bliss hopped on an airplane for Eugene, Oregon and the USATF National Championships on July 31. She reunited with Coach Protzman and the potent pair devised a plan to work around the soreness in her plant knee.
The strategy paid off in spades, as Bliss won the national title. She threw 57.77 (189-6) and earned 1,037 base points with a bonus 100 for winning gold.
Despite all the globetrotting and historic performances, Bliss still resided in the 40s for the world rankings. The 2025 NACAC Senior Championships offered the last opportunity for her to break into the top 36 or hit the automatic qualifying mark of 64 meters. As the US National Champions, she received guaranteed entry to the competition should she have accepted. Bliss immediately agreed, but due to a clerical error, her participation for a short duration, was deemed uncertain. Prominent members of the USATF community rallied for her cause and the situation was resolved.
The sunny Bahamas hosted the NACACs. Bliss entered the competition knowing she needed to finish top three and hit over 57 meters. She succeeded on both accounts, winning the event with a throw of 58.62 (192-4). The distance gained 1,052 base points and an enormous bonus of 170 for a mammoth 1,222.
The 1,222 points boosted her average to 1,117 and slotted her narrowly but safely into the top 36. It was a near-run thing with the first thrower out only 14 points away. As the retrospective demonstrated, Bliss’ NACAC participation provided the boost to send her to Tokyo.
“She has turned it on since winning the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, and hasn’t taken her foot off the gas,” said Protzman. Every meet has been over 55 meters and she is averaging nearly 58 meters over her last six meets. The level of competition has risen and so has Evelyn Bliss.”
A special note of interest is Bliss’ age, or lack of, as she is the second youngest thrower in the field at 20-years-old. She also broke new ground for the Orange & Blue program. Bucknell has never had a track & field athlete at the world championships or the Olympics.
Fiamoncini’s career laid the foundation for Bucknell’s women’s javelin to become what Bison fans have affectionately called “Javenell University.” She has rooted passionately for Bliss to continue the proud tradition.
“I am excited to watch Evelyn compete on this stage. What an amazing accomplishment to add to a list of incredible accolades for her and the program.”
Protzman will travel to the Land of the Rising Sun with Bliss. He and Bliss’ partnership has continually found new worlds to conquer. Perhaps, the World Championships are the latest domain for them to stake their flag in. Bliss’ 2025 accomplishments are some athletes’ career resume: World Championships Qualifier, NACAC Champion, USA National Champion, FISU World University Games Runner Up, NCAA All American, Bucknell School Record, and Patriot League Champion.
“As for what the goal is for Tokyo, I wouldn’t bet against her,” Protzman remarked. “Obviously, she just sneaked in via the rankings system, but I don’t think that is a true indicator on how this might shake out. Maybe it is windy? Maybe it is wet? It is the javelin. Anything can happen. I will be in red, white, blue, and orange; and will just be happy to be in Evie Bliss’ corner.”
So will every Bison fan.
The women’s javelin throw qualifying rounds start on September 19 at 6:30 and 8 a.m. (or still Sept. 18 locally) and the finals are the next day at 8:05 a.m. All listed times are Eastern. The competition will be streamed on World Athletics +.
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