You’ll never believe who’s back competing again.
Tim VanLiew, a Deptford native and javelin finalist at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, hadn’t competed since 2018 but popped up in the results of the Lions Invitational Saturday at The College of New Jersey in Lawrenceville.
In his first meet in six years, VanLiew threw 219-1, which is incredible after a six-year layoff.
VanLiew’s last competition was the 2018 U.S. Championships in Des Moines, where he placed fifth with a 236-4.
His lifetime best is a 261-2 in Arizona on May 21, 2016 at the Tucson Elite Throws Classic. From 2013 through 2018, he was ranked 10th, 16th, 5th, 5th, 4th and 15th among U.S. men.
VanLiew was a two-time NCAA Division 3 champ at Rutgers-Camden, where he was also a 3rd-team All-America goalie on Rutgers-Camden’s soccer team.
Hs 261-2 is tied for 2nd-best ever by a South Jersey thrower. Holy Cross graduate Vince Labosky threw 261-2 in Norwalk, Calif., in 1990. Curtis Thompson of Florence threw 287-9 in East Stroudsburg in 2022.
VanLiew, now 33, earned himself a No. 55 U.S. ranking after his first meet in six years, which is impressive. His series info from Saturday isn’t listed in the results. Thomas Flanagan of Rowan and Arthur Johnson High School placed 2nd with a lifetime-best 196-11 throw.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 