Curtis Thompson unloaded the 9th-best throw of his life Saturday to win American JavFest at East Stroudsburg [Pa.] High School.
Thompson, who heads to Paris next month for his second Olympics, threw 271-0 on his 3rd attempt and won by 10 feet over Sindri Gudmundsson, who threw 261-0 on his 2nd attempt. Thompson and Gudmundsson both threw at Mississippi State but not at the same time.
Thompson, a 2014 Florence High School graduate, won the Trials in Eugene last month and his 4th career U.S. title with a 272-5 throw. He’s ranked 23rd in the world this year and No. 2 among U.S. throwers. His 287-9 at 2022 American JavFest is No. 3 in U.S. history.
On Saturday, Thompson opened with a foul and a 261-7 before the winning 271-0. He finished with a 260-7, 256-2 and 260-0.
Deptford graduate Tim VanLiew placed 6th with his best throw in six years in his 2nd meet since 2018. VanLiew threw 232-9, his best throw since a 236-4 in his final meet of 2018 – the U.S. Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, where he placed 5th.
After that meet, he didn’t compete again until the Lions Invitational at The College of New Jersey in April, where he threw 219-1.
VanLiew’s lifetime best is 261-2 from Tucson [Ariz.] Elite Classic in May 2016.
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]
271-0 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 13, 2024 [1st throw]
270-3 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [2nd throw]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 