Curtis Thompson uncorked the 2nd-best javelin throw in U.S. Olympic Trials history Sunday evening and secured a berth on the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Paris this summer.
Thompson won his 4th U.S. title with a throw of 272-5 on his 1st throw at Hayward Field in Eugene and became only the 2nd repeat winner in Trials history. Breaux Greer won in 2000 and 2004.
This will be Thompson’s 2nd trip to the Olympics. He placed 22nd in Tokyo in 2021. He missed qualifying for the 2016 Games by 15 inches in 2016.
Thompson also won his 4th U.S. title, becoming only the 6th javelin thrower to win four U.S. titles and only the 3rd since 1960.
This one was over quickly.
Thompson’s 272-5 came on the 4th throw of the competition and was his best throw in nearly two years – since he threw 274-11 at a Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Aug. 216, 2022.
Nobody threw within 11 feet of the 28-year-old Thompson. Capers Williamson placed 2nd in 261-0.
The 272-5 is Thompson 5th-best throw ever, and four of his six longest throws ever have come on his 1st attempt of the competition.
The only superior throw in Olympic Trials history was Cyrus Hostetler’s winning 273-1 in 2016, also at Hayward Field. That throw bumped Thompson from 1st to 2nd and denied Thompson his first trip to the Olympics. The current javelin has been in use since the early 1990s.
Coming into the Trials, Thompson’s best throw this year was a 267-3, which ranked 4th among U.S. men and 39th in the world. His 272-5 is No. 19 in the world and No. 2 among Americans, behind NCAA Division 2 champion Jordna Davis of Southern Connecticut, who threw 277-0 in Emporia, Kans., last month. Davis finished 6th Sunday with a best throw of 246-5.
Thompson also had a 264-11 on his 3rd throw, which was the 2nd-best throw of the competition. He threw 242-6 on his 2nd attempt, fouled on his last three throws.
Track and field will be held Aug. 2-11 at Stade de France in Paris. Javelin qualifying is scheduled for Aug. 6, with the final on Aug. 8.
Four-Time U.S. Javelin Champions
Breaux Greer [8]: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Tom Pukstys [6]: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
Bud Held [6]: 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958
George Bronder [6]: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919
Boyd Brown [4]: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942
Curtis Thompson [4]: 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024
Curtis Thompson’s 270-Foot Throws
287-9 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [2nd throw]
276-4 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2022 [3rd throw]
274-11 … Athletissima, La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2022 [1st throw]
273-4 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [1st throw]
272-5 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 23, 2024 [1st throw]
271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016 [1st throw]
271-10 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [3rd throw]
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [6th throw]
270-3 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [2nd throw]
All-Time Olympic Trials Javelin Performance List
273- 1 … Cyrus Hostetler, 2016 [1]
272-5 … Curtis Thompson, 2024 []
271-11 … Curtis Thompson, 2016 [2]
271-7 … Curtis Thompson, 2021 [1]
270-3 … Breaux Greer, 2004 [1]
268-7 … Sam Humphreys, 2012 [1]
268-7 … Todd Riech, 1996 [1]
267-8 … Tom Pukstys, 1996 [2]
266-0 … Breaux Greer, 2000 [1]
265-1 … Sam Crouser, 2012 [2]
* – Current implement in use since the 1992 meet.
All-Time Olympic Trials Javelin Winners List
2024 … Curtis Thompson, 272-5
2021 … Curtis Thompson, 271-7
2016 … Cyrus Hostetler, 271-11
2012 … Sam Humphreys, 268-7
2008 … Bobby Smith, 249-62
2004 … Breaux Greer, 270-3
2000 … Breaux Greer, 266-0
1996 … Todd Reich, 268-7
1992 … Tom Pukstys, 262-5
1988 … Dave Stephens, 261-4
1984 … Duncan Atwood, 306-7
1980 … Rod Ewaliko, 291-0
1976 … Sam Colson, 276-2
1972 … Bill Schmidt, 270-6
1968 … Mark Murro, 263-9
1964 … Frank Covelli, 252-9 ½
1960 … Al Cantello, 277-7
1956 … Cy Young, 244-11
1952 … Bill Miller, 235-8 5/8
1948 … Martin Biles, 225-9
1944 … Not held
1940 … Not held
1936 … Lee Bartlett, 223-3 ¼
1932 … Kenneth Churchill, 222-3 5/8
1928 … Greth Hines, 202-1 ¾
1924 … William Neufeld, 191-1 ½
1920 … Milton Angier, 192-10 ¾
1916 … Not held
1912 … Harry Lott, 166-1 ½
1908 … Platt Adams, 131-6
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 