From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Curtis Thompson unloaded the 3^rd-best throw of his life Saturday and improved on his U.S. No. 1 javelin ranking at the Oregon Relays.

Thompson threw a personal-best 268-1 on his first attempt of the meet, No. 10 in the world this year and a season best. Australian Cameron McEntyre threw 268-10 on his first attempt to win the event with the No. 6 throw in the world this year.

The only bigger throws of Thompson’s life also came at the last two U.S. Olympic Trials, also at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. He threw 271-11 at the 2016 Trials and 271-7 at the 2021 Trials and went on to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Thompson’s previous season best was a 263-10 in a meet in Austin, Texas, last month.

Thompson only got off two legal throws on Saturday. He fouled on four straight attempts after the 268-1 and then finished with a 236-1.

Thompson ranks No. 16 in U.S. history with his PR of 271-11

Here’s an updated look at Thompson’s lifetime 260-foot throws:
271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021
268-1 … Oregon Relays, Hayward Field, Eugene, April 23, 2022
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