Sam Mattis wasted little time sending a message to the rest of the NCAA discus throwers.
On the first throw of his 2016 outdoor track and field campaign, the University of Pennsylvania senior put himself in the record books. At his home meet — the Philadelphia College Classic March 19 — Mattis unleashed a throw that registered around the track and field world: a world-leading 221-3.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the mark was a new college record among athletes born in the United States. It was also a new record for the Ivy League and ranks fourth all-time among all college throwers.
The former American college record was 218-5 by Nevada’s Kamy Keshmiri, which stood since 1991.
The record throw earned the East Brunswick High School graduate U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week honors.
Mattis had a tremendous series of marks at the College Classic with four throws exceeding 200 feet. Along with his record, he had throws of 207-7, 218-2 and 220-6, which was also past the old American record.
Heading into his season-opening meet, Mattis’ personal best in the discus was the 205-0 that won him the 2015 NCAA championship. Breaking that mark by 16 feet in his 2016 debut sends a signal that he could be in for a memorable year.
When he won the NCAA title last spring, Mattis was the first Quaker to strike gold at the meet since 2003 and only the second Ivy League thrower to win the discus championship (the other was Victor Frank in 1949).
While seeking a second straight NCAA title later this spring, Mattis will take aim at a fourth-straight Heptagonal (Ivy League) championship as well.
With this being an Olympic year, the pressure is off the ex-Bear to qualify for the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon. He met the A standard and is now eligible to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team roster.
Mattis’ great collegiate career follows what was a legendary high school career at East Brunswick, where was a two-time national champion (2011, 2012), two time NJSIAA Meet of Champions winner and three-time Penn Relay champion. He also broke the state record, taking it out to 218-4. He was New Jersey’s Gatorade Athlete of the Year as a senior.