Father's Day came early for David Pedigo, who sat in the stands Wednesday evening as his son, Tzuriel, competed in his third-straight NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium.
"There it is!" Pedigo said as he filmed his son's third round throw of 261-9 on his cellphone.
The throw gave Tzuriel Pedigo the lead and he held on to take home his second NCAA championship trophy in the last three years after winning his first title at Oregon's Hayward Field in 2021.
It wasn't the first time this season that David Pedigo recorded his son's throws at the "Mecca" of track of field in Texas. He was there earlier this season at the Texas Relays when his son finished fourth at the Texas Relays with a throw of 254-7.
"Can't wait to see what the throws here two months from now" the older Pedigo posted on social media on April 1.
The wait is over.
While his first NCAA championship in Oregon had some drama as Pedigo moved from seventh to first on his sixth and final throw of the competition, Austin had the vibe "T-Rex," as he is affectionately known to his friends, was looking for.
"It was an empty stadium (in 2021) so you were running on fumes," Pedigo told Flosports' Joe Bataglia. "The energy here is electric. It's a world-class stadium. You get a bunch of world-class athletes and put them in a world-class stadium, and magic happens."
Pedigo becomes the 61st national champion for LSU, which ranks fourth in NCAA history. Also, the former Parkview Baptist Eagle is the first LSU javelin thrower in history to win multiple titles in the event.
Before Pedigo arrived at LSU, Delmon McNabb was the only javelin thrower in LSU history to win an NCAA title. McNabb won in 1963.
