In his final tuneup before U.S. Nationals, Curtis Thompson won the javelin Saturday at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis by more than 15 feet.
Thompson threw 265-4 on his 1st attempt and now has six of the top 12 throws by Americans this year, including his world No. 3 287-11 from March in Austin. U.S. No. 2 Mark Minichello, a former Penn thrower and 2024 NCAA champion for Georgia, was 2ndwith a 250-0 on his final attempt.
Minichello has five of the top 12 throws by Americans this year. Donovan Banks has the other.
Thompson shoots for his 5th U.S. title later this month at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore. Thompson, a 2014 Florence graduate, also won in 2018, 2021 and 2023, with the 2021 and 2024 nationals serving as U.S. Olympic Trials.
Thompson is ranked No. 4 in the world with his 287-11. Minichello is ranked 47th with a season-best 271-3 in Tucson in May. Only Banks, with a 268-9 in Tucson in May, has also thrown 260 feet this year among American men. He’s only competed in two meets this year.
USATF Nationals are scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3 in Eugene. The javelin final is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. on Day 1.
Rancocas Valley graduate Kevin Burr, who just finished his sophomore year at Tennessee, is No. 7 among U.S. men with his PR of 246-8 from Knoxville in May.
The only New Jersey men to win five U.S. titles are Carl Lewis [13], Eulace Peacock [8], Mel Shepaprd [5] and Marty Liquori [5].
and Minichello went 2-3 at 2022 U.S. Nationals, 1-3 at 2023 U.S. Nationals
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 