Just two meets after coming back from a wrist injury, it has been a whirlwind of success for junior thrower David Nichols.

In what was Nichols’ first indoor track NCAA championship, he finished 10th in the shotput. Nichols’ throw was five inches short of advancing into the finals. It was a very strong showing considering he fouled once and still finished in the top ten.

“It’s amazing he was able to do what he did,” Director of Track and Field/ Cross Country Kathleen Raske said. “I’m very proud he was able to overcome those obstacles. He still isn’t 100 percent.”

He won the Big Sky Indoor Shot Put Championship, making it his first indoor title, but fourth overall in the Big Sky.

His indoor school record occurred in Bozeman, Mont., after not competing all season.

Raske said Nichols fouled his first two throws, but on his third he threw over 60 feet to get into the finals in the fifth spot.

On his last throw in the finals, Nichols asked the referee if anyone had beat his previous marks. The referee answered “yes.” Nichols then got fired up, knowing he had to throw big.

He did, recording a new Big Sky meet record, a new school indoor record and an NCAA provisional mark with a put of 62-02.25.

That provisional indoor put was good enough for 13th best in the country, and a trip to the University of Arkansas Friday and Saturday to compete for the national title.

Nichols hurt his wrist the week before Christmas. In the following months, he was not able to lift a shot put, lift weights or put any pressure on his wrist. Basically, he couldn’t train at all. Instead, he waited for his chance to compete and then capitalized on it.

“It shows his true talent,” Raske said. “When he works back to that next level, I can’t wait to see what he does in the next 12-14 weeks. He has a lot of work to do, but if he is 10th in the nation without being able to work — imagine when he can.”

Nichols was the only Sac State athlete representing the school at the championships. Only two other Big Sky athletes made it — Northern Arizona’s Lopez Lomong in the 3,000-meter and Eastern Washington’s David Paul in the weight throw.

Nichols said the past six months have been a crazy experience because of the injuries to his wrist and having to deal with the death of his grandfather.

His goal was to make it into the top eight, but Nichols said he was too tentative in his throw and didn’t execute the way he wanted.

“Sixty-one feet was good and the warm-up felt good, but it wasn’t good enough to get into the finals,” Nichols said.

In Nichols’ first outdoor appearance at the NCAA meet in 2005 he finished ninth. In 2006 he finished sixth. An outdoor championship for Nichols this year is certainly within reach.

Nichols has been an All-American twice, and is in a position for his third.

Nichols said he prefers the outdoor season since the team trains outdoors all year and the indoor field is plastic and bigger compared to the outdoor field.

“The environment is better outdoors,” Nichols said.

His goal is to win his first outdoor national championship and said he feels it’s very obtainable.

To kick off the outdoor season, the Hornets competed at the Aggie Opener. Not all athletes were involved, but five Hornets won, and 16 finished in the top five events.

Lori Vaught won both the triple jump and long jump, Ericka Violett won the pole vault, and Monique Spencer won the high jump.

Daniel Imlach won the pole vault in the men’s competition, just beating out Jimmy Williamson.

On the coaching side, Raske’s accomplishments were recognized when she was named Big Sky Men’s Coach of the Year. Raske took a program that had never finished better than sixth at the Big Sky Championships and won. The men also set this season 10 indoor school records, in just her fourth year as coach. Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]