STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior javelin thrower Anderson Peters is a world champ.
Competing at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Peters took home the title with a toss of 86.89 meters — fending off second place finisher Magnus Kirt by just 68 centimeters.
“Words cannot explain how happy and proud I am of Anderson Peters right now,” associate head coach April Thomas said in a news release. “He has checked off one of his goals in life of being a world champion. He has a true gift, and no one can deny it. It could not have happened to a better young man. I tip my hat to him.”
Peters, a St. Andrews, Grenada native, became just the second ever world champion from the island nation in any event with his title Sunday. It was also the highest-ever finish for a Grenadan javelin thrower — a title that previously belonged to Trevor Modeste’s 18th place finish at the 1983 championships.
“I just believed in my coach and the work we did all season and eventually I became world champion,” he said in a news release. “I want to tell my fellow Grenadians that everybody can do it if I can do it. It’s possible for everybody to become a world champion. You just have to want it as badly as I do.”
The title comes just a few months after Peters returned to the top of collegiate javelin throwing. As a sophomore he took home the SEC, NCAA and Pan American Games championships.
“I’m so happy to see all the hard work that that kid put in pays off, and it pays off on this stage,” head coach Chris Woods said in a news release. “He’s one of the most humble kids, one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever met.”
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