Mississippi State Alumn Dominate World Athletics Championship Javelin

Mississippi State’s former NCAA champions Curtis Thompson and Anderson Peters both medaled in the javelin at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Despite less-than-favorable weather conditions, both Bulldogs put together podium-worthy performances.

Thompson opened the event with a first-round throw of 86.87m. His throw was strong enough to hold his podium spot throughout the series as he claimed bronze for his first global medal. Peters also opened strong; his second-round mark of 87.38m held medal position for the remainder of the competition. Peters’ silver medal complements his previous two world titles. 

Thompson has a long, successful track record. At the World Athletics Championships, he earned the first men’s javelin medal for the United States since 2007. One of the greatest American javelin throwers in history, the five-time U.S. champion can claim World Championships medalist status. Thompson’s toss was just 23 centimeters (a little over 9 inches) shy of the longest American throw at a World Championships in history. Thompson’s stunning performance adds the third medal to the USA’s total of 11, and the first for Grenada at the 2025 World Championships. 

“It means the world,” Thompson said in an interview. “I’m extremely happy to have been able to throw well and bring home the world bronze. I was not the favorite, but I always believed in myself. I always try to win, no matter what, no matter who’s there. I came here to get a medal, and I made it. I had ups and downs during my preparation, but I kept trusting the process and I knew I was ready for this moment.”

Peters, who took the world championship in 2019 and 2022, was one of only three athletes in the field to boast more than one championship medal. Peters also holds the third-furthest winning mark in World Championships history with his 90.54m attempt from 2022, and he is one of just two men in history to win multiple world titles in the javelin, joined by world record-holder Jan Zeleny (CZE).

“I could not have asked for a better competition,” Peters remarked. “The distances were pretty close. The guys were hitting it today. Unfortunately, Neeraj [Chopra] was not in form today, but that’s javelin. You have to bring you’re [sic] A game all the time. My qualifying mark of 89.00m could have given me the gold, but I will try not to dwell too much on it. I tried harder than I did yesterday, but my run-up was a bit messy today. I couldn’t find the rhythm.”

Thompson and Peters are, unsurprisingly, central to the legend of JavU at Mississippi State. As Bulldogs, both athletes won national titles and contributed to a podium sweep at the 2019 NCAA Championships. These earlier victories were clear indicators of the success to come, and State fans all over the country watched the World Athletics Championship to cheer Thompson and Peters on. 

Author contributor Faith Ellington