It has been a couple months since my last post because I wanted to take a break and just focus on the javelin and things have been going really well.

After a really rough season opener at the Mt SAC relays I definitely had my doubts about the season and my progress this year. Training up to that point was going really well; strength was up, technical sessions were great, and I felt really fit. But results are the only real true barometer for a track athlete and when things go wrong it’s a major hit to your confidence.

No matter how experienced you are, or how good your personal best is, there will always be those times in the year where you doubt yourself. I will be the first to admit it. But with my latest experience I would say, never let a single outcome define your perception.

I doubted my ability because of a single meet. I wondered if I was training hard enough, or if I had the tools to compete at a high level.

I competed again at the Oregon Twilight last month and despite the rainy conditions I remained upbeat, confident, and blocked out the fact that the weather was crappy. My outcome was a season best of 80.28m (263-4).

It was a quick turnaround from doubting my ability, to believing anything is possible for me this year!

With my favorite local meet of the year just around the corner, The Prefontaine Classic, I was excited to have a chance to show my supporters what I was capable of this season.

The Pre Classic is one of seven diamond league events in the world with big payouts, the best athletes, and a great chance to prove your ability on the big stage. It is commonly referred to as “the best meet ever!”

In order to get into the Diamond League events you normally have to be in the top 10 athletes in the world. My world ranking was #34 but as a local favorite I had a good chance of making the meet.

The meet director clearly said, whoever wins the Tucson Elite Classic, the week prior, would get the ONE spot that was saved for an American in the field of 8 athletes in the men’s javelin.

Tucson Elite classic is one of my favorite meets. A great crowd that can come out on the field, perfect weather conditions, rock music blasting, and great throwers! So it was a perfect place for me to perform well and prove myself worthy to throw at the Pre Classic.

I went in with a great confident attitude, but was just missing my throws technically. My series was consistent, but just under what I needed. I opened at 78m and stayed in second behind Tim Glover (79m) until the last round. Two guys passed me in the final round and before I knew it the meet was over. I took fourth with 78.50m (257-6).

It’s a distance I would have killed for last season, with all my injuries, but this year I was disappointed. I knew I was capable of more and a 4^th place finish was tough to swallow. Plus I knew I probably wouldn’t get selected for the Prefontaine Classic.

The winner threw 81.57m, just four feet further than I had thrown at the Oregon Twilight. But it was enough reason for the meet director to take him over me.

The Prefontaine classic was tough to watch. The best athletes in the world were throwing and after their long travel to America they had a rough day throwing.

It would have been a great experience to throw at, but I am just trying to find some good out of not throwing at the Prefontaine Classic.

Maybe I would have gotten hurt…

Maybe I would have not thrown well and my confidence would be low for USA Championships…

With the Prefontaine Classic behind me I look forward to the next meet of the year, USA Championships in Sacramento California on June 29^th.

There are a couple competitions I could throw at before then, but I am really busy with work lately and cannot compete.

I am taking it one practice at a time. Being the best I can be, on that day, in order to be better for tomorrow. It can be a grind at times, but the payoff can be so sweet. I challenge myself with small goals each day and each week. Before I know it those little goals pay off at a big meet. Kind of like the saying base hits win games – Keep the big goals in the back of your mind (winning), but set your sights on something obtainable each day (base hits).