if you have looked at my runners space page or myspace/facebook i am sure you know that i have been more than just a little bit excited about the olympic trials this year in 2008 and the fact that i get to participate in them.

my year started out as a Community College Javelin thrower coming off of second place to Clackamus Community College gradutate and new University of Oregon Athlete Mike Simmons, at the NWAACC Conference meet. i had thrown a personal best of 208'6" far from being a contender at the olympic trials.

i had friends such as Rachel Yurkovich and Alex Wolff that were seriously thinking about the trials and being on Team USA. i was more thinking that i might be cool to do that in 4 years (2012) being as i was so far from the B standard of the olympic trials 70 meters (229'8")

i wasnt even sure of myself as a javelin thrower and started working as a decathlete early in the year. dropping 20 lbs in the summer to get ready for events like the 100 meter dash and the 1500. i knew the decathlon would be extremely hard to finish let alone compete against some good athletes.

soon after winter break was over i was starting to throw from the runway for the first time all season and popped off a 222' throw and all my goals changed.

i was only 7 feet off the B standard to go to the trials. and that was in practice! with bad conditions a bad javelin and no competition. i had a feeling i was going to have a big year and possibly get to trials.

i mentioned the idea of trials a few times and got laughed at by some individuals and others embraced it and thought it was an awesome goal for me to be thinking about. most supported me 100% but saw my odd stacked against me.

meets approached and i was getting better every time. i learned so much each meet, with every throw and with every failure i learned how i could become better. half way threw the season i finally broke the 220 barrier. there seems to be obstacles and human limits in athletes lives. in high school its the 200 barrier. for me it was the 220 barrier (in a meet). the next meet i saught to break the next set of barriers the 229'8" barrier (more like 230). its was a huge obstacle it would take a PR of 10 feet from my last meet. and i had already PRed by 12 feet on the year.

to PR by more than 15 ft in a year is incredible. i would say its like taking an 11 second 100 meter guy down to an 11.50 or 11.30 its a huge jump. and i was hoping to PR by 22 feet half way threw my season.

i ended up throwing 233'7" PRing by 13 more feet. it was incredible. the B standard was set and i was ranking 30th in the nation. thats a huge accomplishment in and of itself. but they take the top 24 and i was not going to make it unless i threw farther.

at the conference meet my last chance to make it while it was raining and had a cross wind i ended up throwing another big PR 241'7" it was another 8 feet further and placed me 16th in the nation (07-08) and 11th best throw of the year!

i am sorry but that is a miracle in and of itself. i didnt even know what the javelin was 3.5 years ago and i didnt even think twice about the olympic trials but now i was in it.

that was may 23rd when i threw at conference i would have to wait 6 weeks before i threw again. i was confident that i would do better. i was rehabing a badly damaged ankle on my block leg and only practicing from a 4 step for the next 6 weeks. i was still getting better and i was confident that finals wouldnt be a problem

finally the day came to throw. i was so excited to be out there. so happy to be apart of this huge event. the biggest track meet in all america and i was there competing in it. not many people get to say that.

there wasnt a lot of time for warming up it was kind of poorly scheduled and i wasnt the only javelin thrower that thought this. the day was nice out and the wind was pretty calm (light head wind but not a bad thing).

i was the 4th thrower and i wanted to throw 1 throw (over 77meters 252'7.5") and be done. i know what u r thinking.... an 11 foot PR in 1 throw!? well i was ready. i had the adrenaline going and i had been throwing really well the week before in practice (206' from a 4step and 225'+ from 1/3 approach). my first throw i got up and heard them call out my name and i looked up and saw my ever move on a 50 foot big screen TV! the crowd errupted and started to clap. it had finally had all sunk in where i was and what i had accomplished to get here. most people think that miracles are something from the bible and never happen anymore. but i jus think people arent looking in the right places. its nothing short of a miracle that a 208' javelin thrower from a community college goes to a 241' javelin thrower in the olympic trials. it just doesnt happen. but its definately a miracle of God that it did happen in me.

my throws werent very far. i got better with each throw but it just wasnt going well. i had not thrown from a full approach in 6 weeks my timing was off and my form was not the best. sometimes its just not your day and it wasnt mine. tomorrow i might be able to go out and throw 250'+ but on that day i couldnt. and that was the only day that mattered. i was depressed and sad with myself. i could have done so much more. i had so much more potential and was so disappointed in myself that i couldnt show the world. i walked off the field in 8th place in my flight (soon to be 18th overall) i had throw 219'3" the worst i had throw in 3.5 months.

my whole perception changed the second we walked off the field and into the media tent. there was 4or 5 news reporters that wanted to hear what i had to say even tho i didnt do well. i was so surprised. no one cared that i took 18th place they still all knew that i had the 11th best throw of the year (in america) and that i am from a community college. they all wanted to know how excited i was to be going to University of Oregon next year. and i got to talk up my new team and my new team mates.

the trials are something i can put on my resume of things i have done. it was a great experience and its the first trials of many trials that i will compete in. i cant wait to be on the team at oregon throwing with Alex Wolff and Rachel Yurkovich. we will all feed off of each other so well. and in 2012 i wouldnt be surprised if 3 newberg high school alumni throwers will be going to London for the Olympics in the Javelin.