INDIANAPOLIS - Lucas Leal of the Carthage men's track & field team has been selected to compete in the hammer throw at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the NCAA announced Friday.

Leal, a graduate student from Bartlett, Ill., will return to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second straight season after competing in the hammer throw at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Leal currently ranks seventh in the country at the Division III level in the hammer throw with a mark of 61.28 meters. Leal placed second in the event at the 2025 CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championships and placed sixth in the weight throw at the 2025 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"I am looking forward to seeing Lucas compete on Saturday in the hammer," said Assistant Coach Greg Raimondi.  "He has grown a lot this year mentally and physically.  Heading into the national meet off a PR throw at Auggie and the best series of throws in his career should give him a huge boost of confidence. We have a few more practices to dial in the final changes we want to see and then it's go time to compete with a very deep and competitive field."

Leal will represent the Firebirds on Saturday, May 24 in Geneva, Ohio. The men's hammer throw is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. EST. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.