Never give up. Always persevere. Those have been my mottos to my career throwing the javelin. Saturday I threw a new personal best of 83.83m (275 feet). I have been training for over seven years to break my old personal best and I have finally done it!

Tucson Elite Classic is one of the best meets in the U.S. for throwers. The competition doesn’t have prize money but it has consistent good/warm weather and all the best throwers in the nation come to throw there. It’s like a mini Olympic Trials preview.

I love the meet and it normally brings the best out in the throwers. It’s a throws only competition. It’s free admission to the fans. They can walk right out onto the field and stand right next to the runway. And as always, music is blasting! It is an all-around great atmosphere.

I had really good warm-up throws in the grass, but terrible throws on the runway. I wasn’t sure how things were going to go. Especially after I was feeling a little beat up at my last meet in Jamaica.

I was the first thrower in the competition and I wanted to start off strong. I nailed the throw pretty solid and felt happy with it – 77.48m (254’2”). It caught me off guard a bit because it was a season best by two meters, yet I felt like I could throw so much farther. I was instantly confident I had what it takes to win the meet.

After one round I was in second place. I kept my speed up and threw again. Much better feeling this time. I gave it a few extra screams for good measure and was sure it was farther. 81.28m (266’8”) – it was probably my fourth best throw of my career!

My mindset changed from “winning this meet” to “hit the Olympic Standard.”

I felt like I was running out of time to hit the Olympic Standard (83m – 272’4”). There weren’t a lot of good chances to hit the standard in America. So I had to seize the moment, and throw far while I was throwing well.

I hit my third throw and it didn’t seem that great. I missed it. But it was still far. I clapped in satisfaction and walked off the runway. The electronic board popped up moments later 83.83m (275 feet) and I went nuts. I ran to the officials and asked if I read it right. Sure enough 83.83m. And 83m meant I hit the Olympic Standard.

I felt like I could keep going and shoot for 85m. Keep throwing while you are hot, right? Well I decided to pass the rest of my throws. I was probably going to win (since it was a meet/stadium record), I would probably get into the Prefontaine Classic, I hit the Olympic Standard, and there is no prize money. So I chose to save myself for a bigger meet.

The next morning I was confirmed into the Prefontaine Classic. A Diamond League meet against the best javelin throwers in the World! And best part it is in my former home field (Hayward Field, Eugene Oregon). I cannot wait to see what I can do in front of my hometown fans!

Accomplishments in Tucson

New personal best (7 years 1 month 17 days since last personal best)

#9 best throw in the world so far

Olympic Standard

Meet record

81.28m and 83.83m is the first time I have thrown over 80m two times in the same competition

 

Olympic Trials Rundown

There are now three male javelin throwers with the Olympic Standard in the US (including myself).

Sean Furey – 83.08m (272’6”) Sean has been javelin US Champion three times (2010, 2014, 2015) and is a 2012 Olympian

Sam Crouser – 83.33m (273’5”) Sam is a two time NCAA javelin national champion (2014-2015).

 

But don’t be surprised if more guys hit it this year.

 

Tim Glover – 84.09m (275’11”) Tim has the best personal best of any active American javelin thrower. He has one of the cleanest looking javelins and has a great potential to throw the Olympic standard anywhere.

Riley Dolezal – 83.50m (273’11”) Riley has huge potential and has thrown over the Olympic standard once before in 2013. He has been “Mr. Consistency” in the javelin over the last three years. I really hope he hits the standard in the next few weeks!

Sam Humphreys – 83.14m (272’9”) Sam is one of the biggest dudes throwing the javelin in the world. At 6’7” and 260 pounds he has tons of potential.

Curtis Thompson – 81.03m (265’10”) He leads the NCAA with a big personal best this year. I hope he can hit the standard by the Olympic Trials.

Ryan Young – 79.89m (262’2”) Ryan is one of my training partners and I have seen what he is capable of. I know he can throw the standard.

Tim VanLiew – 79.62m (261’3”) Tim has been slowly chipping away towards 80m. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he bumped one up to 83 meters.