In the complex world of track and field, originating from the competitions of ancient Greeks, javelin stands as one of the most clear markers of the sports origin. The javelin comes from a weapon used during wartime among the warring Greek states. Nowadays, javelins in war have been replaced with computer-guided missiles, and they find their purpose on the field.
In javelin throwing, competitors launch a spear-like implement, known as the javelin, with the aim of achieving maximum distance. The sport demands a unique blend of strength, speed and coordination, as athletes must master the art of generating force while maintaining control and balance throughout the throw.
The javelin team at Westfield is headed by coach John Preston and consists of a large team headlined by star seniors Jeremy Cruz and Max cho and junior Lincoln Meyers. The team has taken the section title for the past five consecutive seasons, and Preston has his eye on a sixth. “I expect to have a sectional championship again this year with our guys, and with javelin it should be Max Cho. If he doesn’t win it, one of the other guys in the team will, but Max should be sectional champ again as he was sophomore year.”
Reflecting on Cho’s previous success sophomore year and injury battles his junior year, Preston asserts his confidence in Cho. “He was hurt last year, so we’re looking for him to come back, and we had the sectional champ in Mason Marino last year. I’ve had the sectional champ for the last five years, so this is looking for six in a row.”
Preston outlines a typical day of practice for the javelin team, usually taking up about two to two and a half hours. The practices typically entail “throwing different instruments starting with a lighter instrument and we work our way all the way up to the boys javelin. Runway work to get their footwork down for throwing. That would take about an hour and a half. Once we’ve done all that, we go in the weight room for probably an hour left.”
Additionally, Cho himself expects great things from the team this year, as he says; “we’re expecting all three Javelin throwers in the relays to throw at least 150 (feet). The goal is to break some school records and hopefully take home a sectional championship.”
The Javelin team is one of the many hidden gems in Blue Devil athletics, silently dominating the playing field and securing Westfield as one of the best track and field programs in the state year after year. With high expectations for the end of this season, Cho and the rest of the throwers look to smash records and claim the program’s sixth straight sectional title.
