Florence’s Curtis Thompson, the top-ranked U.S. javelin thrower, easily advanced to the finals Saturday in the qualifying round at the U.S Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
The top 12 throwers from Friday’s qualifying rounds advanced to the final on Monday. That is considered a separate competition and marks made on Saturday do not carry over to Monday.
Thompson threw 250-1 on his first throw and after a foul threw 248-3 on his third attempt.
The cut-off for advancing to finals was 223-3. Only four throwers reached 240 feet.
Marc Anthony Minichello led all qualifiers with a 251-5 on his only attempt. Capers Williamson (249-2) and Michael Shuey (243-8) also hit 240 feet.
Thompson ranks No. 1 in the U.S. this year with a throw of 267-2, which he uncorked at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Ariz., three weeks ago. That was his biggest throw in five years, since the 2016 Olympic Trials, also in Eugene, where he set a PR of 271-10. That throw is No. 16 in U.S. history.
Thompson was the 2016 NCAA champion for Mississippi State and 2018 U.S. national champion.
The 12 qualifiers will get six additional throws in the final, which begins at 7:15 p.m. EST on Monday.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 