GREENSBORO, N.C. — "All-American."
 
For Saint Mary's University's Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.), it has a rather nice ring to it.
 
To say that Swanson made the most of her first appearance at the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships would be a bit of an understatement.
 
By a long shot.
 
Swanson came within one throw of becoming Saint Mary's first-ever NCAA Division III national champion Thursday afternoon, uncorking a school-record throw of 46.65 meters in the javelin to finish second in the 19-athlete field at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
 
In fact, with just Southern Maine's Sophia Slovenski left to throw, Swanson had a strangle-hold on the national title, leading the field by more than three meters. Slovenski, however, saved her best throw for last, delivering a winning throw of 48.21 meters to snatch that coveted national crown away from the Cardinal sophomore.
 
"I'm not going to lie, I was super nervous — more nervous than I have ever been for any sporting event in my life," said Swanson. "But, at the same time, I was also  excited to have the privilege of competing against the best javelin athletes in the country."
 
Sitting sixth after her first two throws in the first of two flights, posting marks of 38.65 meters and 37.12 meters, Swanson leap-frogged all five competitors in front of her with her school-record throw of 46.65 meters — nearly three meters further than the previous mark of 43.78m set by Ashley Luehmann in 2007.
 
"Heading into my last throw (of the first flight), I was trying not think about just going out and doing my best," Swanson said. "I threw it, and my mind went blank. I heard them say, '46' and I thought, 'hmmm, they must have said 36.'
 
"It felt good, but I didn't think it was that good."
 
It was good, all right — really good.
 
Swanson's 46.65-meter toss put her three meters in front of the rest of the field, with Slovenski sitting second heading into the three finals throws with a mark of 43.66.  The mark withstood the first two rounds of the finals — and the first seven throws of the finals.
 
All that stood between Swanson and that elusive national championships was Slovenski's final throw.
 
Unfortunately for Swanson, that final throw was the best of the afternoon.
 
"If you would have told me before (the national championships) that I'd be an All-American, I would have said you were crazy," said Swanson. "It's a little heartbreaking losing out on a national championship on the last throw, but this has been an awesome experience — and I'm very proud of what I've accomplished."