Chris Fredericks stood at the edge of the runway in the thin air of Colorado, moments before the final javelin throw of his collegiate career at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.

He didn’t overthink it. He didn’t feel pressure. He simply trusted what he knew — and let it go.

“I had this vision, epiphany, whatever you want to call it,” Fredericks said. “I saw exactly what I needed to do. I had so much confidence and trust walking onto the runway that I knew exactly what was going to happen. And it happened.”

He described the moment as one rooted in faith — something that gave him clarity, peace, and belief in what was about to unfold.

That final effort at Colorado State University–Pueblo sailed 71.76 meters (235 feet, 5 inches), setting a personal best, and earning Fredericks third place and All-American honors.

It also punched his ticket to the 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships, where he would go on to place seventh on July 31 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon — the most iconic stage in American track and field – with a throw of 67.68 meters (222 feet, 0 inches), a mark he secured on his first attempt of the competition.

His 2025 season featured a string of high-caliber performances:

• Second place at the All-American meet with a throw of 64.86m (212’ 9”)

• Winner of the Delaware Invitational with 63.97m (209’ 10”)

• Second-place finish at Shippensburg’s Keystone State Challenge with 58.68m (192’ 6”)

• Runner-up at the Penn Relays with 64.90m (212’ 11”)

• Fourth place at the PSAC Outdoor Championships with 63.20m (207’ 4”)

A Long Road Back

A 2019 graduate of Palmerton Area High School, Fredericks was a three-time District 11 champion and won two Colonial League titles in the javelin and placed third at the PIAA Championships his senior year. He entered the collegiate ranks with a personal-best of 206-3 and began his career at Penn State.

After being forced to sit out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 cancellation, Fredericks made an early splash in 2021, placing third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with a throw of 67.55 meters. That same season, he hit a then-career-best 225-6 (68.74m) and finished 17th at the NCAA East Regionals.

In 2022, he placed seventh at Big Tens. Injuries, however, would soon derail his momentum. He underwent Tommy John surgery, then suffered a torn pectoral muscle in his 2023 opener at the Penn Challenge — an injury that ended his season and led to a medical redshirt.

He returned in 2024, throwing a career-best 230-5 (70.24m) at the Virginia Challenge — breaking the 70-meter barrier for the first time and climbing to No. 10 all-time in Penn State history. He placed sixth at the Big Ten Championships and returned to the NCAA East Region Prelims before deciding to use his final year of eligibility elsewhere.

That decision led him back home — and to East Stroudsburg University.

A Full-Circle Year

“I think it’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made — both athletically and educationally,” Fredericks said. “I got to be closer to home, go back to grad school to become a teacher, and see a totally different perspective between Division I and Division II. It was an incredible experience.”

At ESU, he reached a new level — both as a thrower and a mentor. In addition to breaking the school javelin record and placing third at the NCAA Division II Championships, Fredericks helped guide younger teammates, including freshman Luke Stevenosky, a standout from Minersville who won the PSAC title in the javelin.

“Luke actually beat me at PSACs,” Fredericks said. “That was awesome. We both went to nationals and became first team All-Americans. I’m proud of him — and proud to have been able to help.”

Fredericks is also excited to work with another top thrower from his hometown this fall — Palmerton’s Ryan Burkett, the 2025 PIAA Class 2A state champion in the discus. Burkett was the first state gold medalist for longtime Palmerton throwing coach Kris Hoffner, who is now entering his 31st season.

“Ryan’s coming to East Stroudsburg, and I couldn’t be more excited,” Fredericks said. “To work with someone from my hometown, especially someone as talented and hard-working as he is — that’s really special.”

From Blue Bomber to Warrior

Returning to the same community where his throwing journey began has brought Fredericks a deeper sense of purpose. He still talks regularly with Coach Hoffner, especially during spring track season. He even made it back to Palmerton for senior night this past spring.

“It’s amazing to see how far that program has come — and that Coach Hoffner is still making an impact,” Fredericks said. “I owe a lot to him and to the foundation that was built at Palmerton.”

Fredericks will continue as a graduate assistant coach this fall while finishing his final year of grad school in education. He hopes to keep training and compete post-collegiately in 2026, possibly earning another shot at a national or international team.

But even more than his own goals, he’s focused on passing along what he’s learned.

“I’ve had big injuries, setbacks, moments where I felt like I didn’t belong,” he said. “But I’ve also had the chance to see what it looks like to fight through that and come out on the other side. That’s what I want to give back now.”

The Dream Lives On

His experience at Hayward Field — the Mecca of American track and field — was unforgettable.

“Every track athlete dreams of competing there,” Fredericks said. “To do it for USAs, wearing the ESU name across my chest, was something I’ll never forget.”

And while he admits the feeling of being on that stage hasn’t fully set in yet, it’s sparked something deeper.

“I walked off that track hungry,” he said. “This is the most excited I’ve ever been going into a season — even though the last one just ended.”

His final collegiate throw felt effortless — a moment of clarity, trust, and faith. That throw may be in the books, but the momentum behind it is still building.

And Fredericks is ready — once again — to let it fly.