All-American Nafew Mohammed Earns Top-5 Finish at NJCAA Championships
Hobbs, N.M. — Opening day of competition at the 2026 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships delivered one of the premier field event competitions of the entire meet, and Essex County College stood firmly in the national spotlight Thursday morning at Ross Black Track in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Wolverines standout Nafew Mohammed rose to the occasion in the Men's Javelin Finals, producing a breakthrough performance against one of the deepest championship fields in the country.
Entering the meet ranked fifth nationally, Mohammed elevated his performance when the stakes were highest. Then, with the pressure at its peak, during his sixth and final attempt of the championship, the Essex County College sophomore unleashed the best throw of his season, a massive mark of 67.91m (222-10) Season-Best, securing a top-five national finish and All-American honors for the Wolverines.
The dramatic final throw capped one of the most electric moments of opening day competition, as Mohammed delivered on the biggest stage and in one of the most competitive fields of the season.
Throughout the finals, the competition evolved into a tightly contested battle among the nation's elite throwers, with momentum shifting throughout the morning. Mohammed answered each round with poise, consistency, and composure before saving his biggest moment for last.
Following the performance, Essex County College head coach Bruce Berry praised Mohammed's resilience and championship mentality. "Nafew is an incredible athlete, with amazing skills who overcame obstacles this week to become All-American. Simply priceless. His focus remained on competing, despite the adversity he faced. I am tremendously proud of my student-athlete."
Men's Javelin Finals — Top 5 Finishers
- LeBron James — 77.91m (255-07)
- Titouan Dobo Bi — 70.57m (231-06)
- Anthony Diaz — 68.44m (224-06)
- Gabriel Ortiz — 68.22m (223-10)
- Nafew Mohammed — 67.91m (222-10) SB
For Essex County College, Mohammed's top-five national finish represents one of the premier performances of opening day competition and further solidifies the Wolverines' emergence on the national stage.
More importantly, it validated exactly what made Mohammed one of the nation's most dangerous throwers entering the meet, his ability to rise in championship moments.
Later in the evening, Essex County College continued competition at the national championships as Issah Abdul Rahaman competed in the Men's 400m preliminary rounds. Rahaman recorded a personal-best time of 49.62 seconds against elite national competition.
In the javelin, one runway, one release, and one throw can define an entire season. Thursday morning in Hobbs, All-American Nafew Mohammed delivered exactly that kind of moment.