From VCSU Athletics 

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – Zachary Co saved his best for last.

The VCSU senior thrower unleashed a season-best throw of 17.22 meters in the shot put on Friday, taking third place at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. It is Co’s best finish ever at nationals, capping off the career of one of the most decorated throwers in Vikings history.

Co entered the meet seeded 15th in the event, but he recorded a season-best throw of 16.54 meters in the preliminaries to qualify for the finals in sixth place. In Co’s first throw of the finals, the Viking senior unleashed his top throw of 17.22 meters that earned him third place. That distance was more than three feet farther than his previous best this season.

Friday’s performance gave Co the fifth All-American honor of his shot put career. He previously placed fifth at the 2021 outdoor nationals and was 8th (2022), 4th (2021) and 6th (2020) at the indoor nationals.

Co also won six conference championships during his career, including five in shot put and one in weight throw. He holds the outdoor shot put school record (17.54 meters) and ranks second in school history in hammer throw (55.09 meters) and indoor shot put (17.13 meters).