Perseverance Reward: Bacilla Is Back Throwing
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
(Photo courtesy of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Considering her circumstances, it would have been easy for Emma Bacilla to avoid a final season of collegiate track.
After all, it might have seemed appropriate two years ago if the fifth-year senior javelin-event athlete for Louisiana and former three-sport standout from Westminster Christian Academy had said farewell to college track.
At that time Bacilla was already sufficiently invested in her future, with a college undergraduate degree and the intention of attending physical therapy school.
Instead the 2026 NCAA outdoor track and field season has been one of recovery and triumph for Bacilla, who is scheduled to compete next week in the NCAA East First Round regional meet hosted at the University of Kentucky.
Qualifying at the regionals will make her eligible for the championships next month in Eugene, Oregon.
Cajuns’ head track coach Tommy Badon expresses admiration for the perseverance Bacilla has exhibited, especially after she experienced a potentially catastrophic arm injury that prevented her from throwing in 2025.
“Emma qualified for the NCAA’s two years ago, but she developed a MCL tear, which is serious for someone using a throwing motion. Her injury is similar to what pitchers have in baseball when they undergo a Tommy John surgery,” Badon said on Thursday afternoon.
Due to the seriousness of the injury, Bacilla, Badon said, Bacilla acquired a medical exemption from the NCAA, enabling her to complete the corrective surgical procedure and rehabilitate.
Bacilla says in addition to the rehabilitation process, there was the mental aspect of potential reinjury to confront.
Ironically it was two years ago this weekend that Bacilla detected a pop in her arm as she was practicing for the 2024 NCAA regionals.
“The arm had been bothering me, but this time I heard it. There was a pop and I felt it. A lot of javelin throwers have this,” Bacilla said.
Surgery was performed in Baton Rouge and afterward Bacilla says, there was the decision of whether to continue competing or enter post-collegiate life.
After some contemplation Bacilla knew the answer.
“I didn’t want to look back at some point in life and think about what if I didn’t try to come back,” Bacilla said.
Holding the javelin and throwing it again at the Cajuns’ track facility presented its own challenges.
“It was a very long process and it also took a lot of patience. Then you think back to what happened when you were injured and there’s a question in your mind that you need to be careful and not reinjure it,” Bacilla said.
At the Sun Belt Conference championship meet a week ago, Bacilla marked 157-7-feet in the javelin. That throw was the third best at the meet, but it qualified her for competition in Lexington, Ky. on May 27-30.
The SBC performance followed a first place in the Jaguar Invitational where Bacilla tossed the javelin 137-2.
In April Bacilla had one throw of 134-5 followed by her 146-1 at the Crimson Tide Meet.
Badon said it’s obvious that her attitude towards recovery has helped Baton through a difficult stretch.
Navigating therapy perhaps had its benefit, since Bacilla said she now wants to help others and become a physical therapist.
Badon said her attitude towards the injury has placed her in contention as an NCAA regional qualifier.
“What has helped her comeback is her commitment, which is a testimony to her character and upbringing.” said Badon.
“Emma decided that she was going to come here to compete and she’s worked real hard and become pretty good in her event. Her story is a really good one and I’m proud of her,” said Badon.
