Eastern Regional graduate Pete Flacco is the fifth South Jersey javelin thrower over 200 feet this spring, thanks to a season-opening 200-1 throw at the VertKlasse Meeting in High Point, N.C.
Flacco joins Curtis Thompson of Mississippi State, Chris Mirabelli of Rutgers, Nick Mirabelli of Texas A&M and Cade Antonucci of Auburn on the 2019 javelin 200-foot list.
This is Flacco’s second year at Monmouth. His best throw last spring was a 206-0 in a meet in Charlotte, N.C.
Monmouth has three of the top four javelin throwers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference so far this year.
Flacco was a two-time JUCO national champion at Rowan College Gloucester County, where he threw 209-4 1/2, although that’s not reflected in the school’s list of records, which apparently hasn’t been updated for several years.
Thompson (254-5), Chris Mirabelli (237-2), Nick Mirabelli (236-6), Antonucci (217-7) are South Jersey’s five 200-footers.
South Jersey has three of the top-four javelin throwers in Division 1 (the top three Americans) and three of the top six U.S. throwers.
In addition to the five Division 1 javelin throwers listed above who’ve hit 200 feet, Matt Gross of Rutgers-Camden via Cherokee High threw a PR 196-3 this past weekend at Widener. Rowan’s Dan McAleavey, a Howell graduate, is just inches from the 200-foot barrier with a 199-6 in a meet two weeks ago in Orlando.
Both are among the leaders in the NCAA Division 3 rankings.