Wabash College senior Reis Thomas wrapped up his collegiate track and field career with a tenth-place finish in the men's discus throw at the 2023 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Saint John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, on Thursday's opening day of competition.
 
Thomas earned a place in the championship meet with a career-best throw of 52.2.3 meters at the Augustana Midwest Twilight Qualifier on May 18. His mark broke the Wabash discus record and ranked 13th among DIII throwers, earning a place among 22 qualifiers for the meet.
 
Thomas started the day with a throw of 48.43 meters (158 feet, 10 inches) in the first of two flights. He bettered that mark on his second attempt with a throw of 48.56 meters (159 feet, 4 inches). Thomas saved his best throw for his final effort in the flight with a distance of 49.05 meters (160 feet, 11 inches) to finish fourth out of 11 competitors. Thomas moved to ninth place during the second flight of throws before a toss of 49.30 meters by Dylan Perlino from Alfred State on his last attempt moved Thomas to tenth place and out of the finals.

"Competing at the NCAA DIII national meet was an amazing experience, and one I'm blessed to have been able to experience," Thomas said. "Though I can always wish to have performed better, a top-ten national finish is hard to be upset with, considering all the ups and downs that came with the season. I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity and am pleased to end the final chapter of my Wabash athletic career on the national stage."

"Competition was extremely tough, and finishing tenth was an impressive accomplishment," Wabash throwers coach John Bute said. "Reis competed with every throw, increasing his distance each time."
 
Freshman Haiden Diemer-McKinney will compete on Friday in the prelims of the 800-meter run at the championship meet. He races in the first of three heats at 6:30 p.m. The top-two finishers in each heat and the next two fastest times among the remaining runners advance to Saturday's finals.