It’s been a challenging senior season for two-time All-America javelin thrower Maria Bienvenu of TCU, but as has been typical throughout her collegiate competitive career, she rose to the occasion last weekend in Lawrence, Kansas.
Bienvenu earned a podium finish and a bronze medal at the Big XII Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Kansas University.
In a field of the 16 top throwers from the Big XII, the St. Mary’s graduate and Natchitoches native came up with a 173-7 throw that earned her third place and a spot in the NCAA West Regional Championships upcoming at College Station, Texas.
She has battled back problems this spring but rose up to score six points and help the TCU women secure a third-place team finish, their best ever at the Big XII Championships. The mark was a season best but about five feet behind her career personal record.
She will enter the West Regionals May 28-31 as the 16th-ranked thrower in a field of 48, with the top 12 advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., in June.
Bienvenu was honorable mention All-America for TCU in 2024 after a 17th place finish in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
She previously was twice a second-team All-America while competing as a freshman and sophomore at UL Lafayette. The top 16 finishers at the NCAA Championships earn All-America status and the next eight are honorable mentions.
It all has been remarkable competitive achievement for an athlete who never competed in the event until late in her senior season at SMHS. After helping lead the Lady Tigers to a basketball state championship and earning All-State honors, she was persuaded to give the javelin a try and with coaching from SMHS alumnus and former national high school record-holder Corwyn Aldredge, in just a few weeks Bienvenu sparked at the state meet and earned college scholarship offers in her new sport.
