Florence Olympian Curtis Thompson recorded the best season-opening throw of his javelin career Friday.
Thompson, competing at the Texas Relays in Austin, threw 260-1 on his second throw of the season. His previous-best season opener was a 252-8 in his opener two years ago on March 20, 2021, at the Falcon Classic in Montevalla, Ala.
Thompson placed 3rd overall behind Keyshawn Strachan of Auburn and the Bahamas, who PR’d with a world-leading 276-5, and Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi of Baylor and Nigeria, who threw 262-5.
It was Thompson’s first meet since Sept. 8, when he finished his 2022 season with a 269-4 for 4th place at Weltklasse at Letzigrund in Zürich.
Thompson finished last year ranked No. 8 in the world and No. 1 American with a lifetime-best 287-8 at the American JavFest at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) South High School. That’s No. 3 in U.S. history.
He became the first American ranked in the top 10 in the world in the javelin in 15 years, since Breaux Greer in 2007.
Next up for Thompson is the Mt. SAC Relays at April 14 at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, Calif.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 