Tim – on his last collegiate throw, wins the Conference javelin championship

Saturday the 20th.

Yay Tim! On Long Island, in the wet and rain, which made throwing very difficult and cut down on everyone’s distances. The event was delayed about 90 minutes to avoid the heaviest rain but the run-up track was treacherous. Tim was seeded #2 but had the best throw in the preliminary round (everyone gets three throws) so was seeded #1 in the final (top six throwers get three more throws). The top seed gets to throw last. It was really a two man battle since Tim and the Daemen College (a school near Buffalo) thrower were way ahead of everyone else. Daemen passed Tim’s best in the 4th round – but Tim had the last throw of the event (and his college career) in the 6th round and hit a nice one, to win by almost three feet. His throw was just short of 140′ which is normally pretty mediocre, but was more than good enough in the bad weather!

There is a wonderful sporting fraternity with all the throwers in all throwing (javelin, discuss, shot put, hammer) events – they pull for each other. Before Tim’s last throw, the Daemen thrower (name of Sullivan) gave Tim a fist bump. Throwers are hanging together for the 60 to 120 minutes the throwing event takes place and they frequently are in multiple events and see each other at different meets. So they get to know each other.

Tim has always been cool when he wins – never shows much emotion – and this time was no different. But we could tell he was pleased and Brigid and I were delighted for him. Wonderful way to end your college throwing career!

Some pictures – I have some video and will stitch it together and then post it.

Watching the women throwers after his win. His teammate Desiree (in blue) came third in the javelin – and second in the 100 meter hurdles! Yay Desiree! And Tim’s school (STAC – St Thomas Aquinas College) won the men’s championship for the third year in a row. Yay STAC!