Not a bad way to start your college career.
Kevin Burr, a Tennessee true freshman from Rancocas Valley, bombed a huge lifetime-best 225-0 in the javelin Friday afternoon and placed 2nd in the Black and Gold Invitational at the University of Central Florida Track and Soccer Complex in Orlando.
That’s No. 9 in Tennessee history and the biggest throw by a Volunteer in 10 years, since Kyle Quinn threw 256-10 on his final attempt at the 2014 Tennessee Relays in Knoxville.
Burr fouled on his first attempt, then PR’d at 214-6 on his 2nd throw. After a 205-1 and 198-2, he hit 225-0 on his 5th attempt to move from 5th place into 2nd. He fouled on his final attempt.
So he recorded the three biggest throws of his life in his college debut.
Last spring, in his first year throwing the javelin, Burr won the state Group 4 title with a 190-7 throw at Franklin High School. He PR’d with a 204-4 at the Meet of Champions, and that was his only meet over 200 feet until Friday.
Burr threw within eight feet of the Tennessee freshman record of 232-10, set by Leigh Smith at the 2001 Southeastern Conference Championships in Columbia, S.C.
Burr finished second to Raritan Steve Coponi of Rutgers, who won the meet with a 229-8 on his first attempt.
Only six other South Jersey athletes have hit 225 feet in the javelin, including Olympian and all-time U.S. No. 3 Curtis Thompson of Florence. Six of the top eight javelin throwers in South Jersey history are from South Jersey.
Here’s a look at the top 10 (I think) South Jersey javelin alumni (with the new javelin):
287-9 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], July 4, 2016, Eugene, Ore.
261-2… Vince Labosky [Holy Cross], June 15, 1990, Norwalk, Calif.
261-2 … Tim VanLiew [Deptford], May 21, 2016, Tucson, Ariz.
251-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], April 29, 2017, Philadelphia
249-9 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], June 9, 2021, Eugene, Ore.
236-5 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], March 27-30, 2019, Austin, Texas
225-0 … Kevin Burr [Rancocas Valley], March 15, 2024, Orlando, Fla.
214-6 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], May 8, 2010, Ewing, N.J.
213-2 … Edgar Rosa [Paulsboro], April 8, 2023, Glassboro, N.J.
212-2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 