Curtis Thompson uncorked one of the biggest throws of his life Friday in Austin.
Thompson, an Olympian and two-time U.S. javelin champion, threw 263-11 at the 94th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus.
The Florence High School graduate won the event by 5 ½ feet over Olympic Trials finalist Zach Holland of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., who threw a personal-best 258-6.
Thompson’s 263-10 is Thompson’s 6th-farthest throw ever and just eight feet and one inch off his lifetime best of 271-11, which he threw at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Thompson and Holland are now No. 1 and No. 2 in the U.S. this year. Thompson is No. 10 in the world, and Holland is No. 16. The meet produced four of the top 27 throws in the world this year.
Thompson opened his series Friday in Austin with a 255-3 and a foul. Holland took the lead with his 258-6 on his 3rd throw and 19-year-old Baylor freshman Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi of Nigeria threw a PR 257-3 on his 5th throw to bump Thompson into 3rd place.
Thompson hit 253-7 219-1 and 239-1 on his 3rd, 4th and 5th attempts before securing the win on his final throw. Nnamdi’s throw is No. 2 in Nigerian history, behind only a 266-0 by Pius Bazighe at Athens Tsiklitiria in 1999.
Here’s a look at Thompson’s eight lifetime 260-foot throws:
271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021
267-2 … USATF Throws Fest, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 22, 2021
265-10 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 17, 2021
265-10 … Florida State Relays, Mike Long Track, Tallahassee, Fla., March 25, 2016
263-10 … 94th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin, Texas, March 25, 2022
260-11 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 30, 2016
260-1 … NACAC Under-23, San Salvador, Estadio Jorge “Mágico” González, June 17, 2016
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 