ONE AND DONE. Throwing fourth in the order, Curtis Thompson hit a 272-5 (83.04), his best in two years, on his initial effort, and that was enough to defend his Trials title, and give him his fourth USATF crown.
The 28-year-old Mississippi State alum found himself ahead of Donavon Banks (259-9/79.19) at the end of that first round, with Jordan Davis from Div. II’s Southern Connecticut 3rd at 246-5 (75.10).
In round 2, Capers Williamson, throwing just before Thompson, launched the spear out to a season best 261-0 (79.57) to move into 2nd. Thompson responded with a disappointing 242-6 (73.92). Then James Kotowski of UMass–Lowell launched a PR 248-4 (75.69) to move to 4th.
In round 3, Thompson produced another throw good enough to win, a 264-11 (80.75). Nebraska’s Dash Sirmon then threw his best of the day, 252-0 (76.83) to push Kotowski out of 4th.
And that, sadly for the fans, is where the action ended. The final three rounds featured a bevy of desperate attempts to throw farther, but the red flag dominated. Thompson fouled his last three, as did Williamson and Banks. Sirmon fouled one and then withdrew. The only athlete to see any improvement in the final three rounds was 8th-placer Marc Anthony Minichello of Georgia, with a final effort 239-8 (73.07).
Missing from the finals was NCAA runner-up Chandler Ault of Washington, who in qualifying could not get within 30 feet of his effort here two weeks earlier. Other casualties included Big 10 champ Mike Stein of Iowa and ’22 winner Ethan Dabbs with three fouls.
Thompson’s Paris berth seems to be secure; he is currently No. 14 in the “Road To Paris” rankings. Minichello is the only other American currently in the quota at No. 30.
“Making another Olympic team is huge,” said Thompson. “I was in this little slump at first and I was finally able to get out of that. I’m just trusting the team and trusted the process. I was kind of cramping up out there at the right time.The heat and the cold were playing little tricks on me; sometimes that happens.”
MEN’S JAVELIN RESULTS
FINAL (June 23)
1. Curtis Thompson (TsmithBH) 272-5 (83.04)
(272-5, 242-6, 264-11, f, f, f) (83.04, 73.92, 80.75, f, f, f);
2. Capers Williamson (unat) 261-0 (79.57)
(240-4, 261-0, f, f, f, f) (73.27, 79.57, f, f, f, f);
3. Donavon Banks (unat) 259-9 (79.19)
(259-9, 239-3, f, f, f, f) (79.19, 72.93, f, f, f, f);
4. Dash Sirmon (Nb) 252-0 (76.83) (f, 228-3, 252-0, f, p, p) (f, 69.59, 76.83, f, p, p);
5. James Kotowski (MaL) 248-4 (75.69) PR (233-6, 248-4, 226-1, 247-4, 234-8, 234-8) (71.17, 75.69, 68.93, 75.39, 71.52, 71.53);
6. Jordan Davis (SnCt) 246-5 (75.10)
(246-5, f, 246-4, 246-1, 244-11, 245-10) (75.10, f, 75.08, 75.02, 74.66, 74.93);
7. David Friedberg (unat) 246-3 (75.06)
(223-9, 231-9, 246-3, 220-3, f, 215-2) (68.20, 70.64, 75.06, 67.14, f, 65.58);
8. Marc Anthony Minichello (Ga) 239-8 (73.07)
(232-1, 238-1, 231-11, f, 234-2, 239-8) (70.75, 72.56, 70.69, f, 71.39, 73.07);
9. Cameron Bates (BYU) 228-4 (69.61); 10. Brett Thompson (unat) 228-0 (69.49); 11. Abraham Sargent (Fl) 221-2 (67.42); 12. Ethan Shalaway (TsmithhBH) 202-6 (61.73).
QUALIFYING (July 21)
Qualifiers: Thompson 261-3 (79.64), Davis 253-1 (77.14), Williamson 252-7 (77.00), Sirmon 248-6 (75.74), Banks 240-2 (73.21), Sargent 234-5 (71.45), Bates 234-2 (71.39), Kotowski 233-9 (71.26), Minichello 231-9 (70.64), Shalaway 231-1 (70.44), Friedberg 230-10 (70.36), Thompson 229-2 (69.86);
Non-qualifiers: John Keenan (unat) 229-0 (69.81), Chandler Ault (Wa) 228-5 (69.63), Ethan Radames Cocco (Clem) 224-4 (68.39), Evan Todd (Mt) 221-3 (67.44), James McNaney (unat) 213-0 (64.93), Matthew Cahoon (unat) 211-3 (64.40), Braden Presser (Navy) 211-3 (64.38), Joshua Trafny (Web) 210-9 (64.24), Mike Stein (Ia) 203-4 (61.98), Cole Stewart (Troy) 194-3 (59.22), Cody Canard (Web) 189-3 (57.68);… 3f—Ethan Dabbs (unat).
