LEXINGTON, Ky. - UMBC senior Iosif Papa qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon for the second straight year on Friday afternoon. 

Competing in the NCAA East First Round hosted by the University of Kentucky, Papa secured the final of 12 qualification spots with a throw of 57.72 meters. Competing in the final flight, Papa's throw was 0.69 meters better than 13th place, comfortably moving him on to Oregon. 

Papa also qualified in 2025, placing ninth at the East event before finishing 17th at the Outdoor Championships. Papa reset his own program record earlier this season with a 59.86-meter throw.