Footspeed into power.
That’s the secret to high performance in throwing the javelin– at least according to King’s senior Curtis Clauson.
He should know because Clauson is the current national and state co-leader in the Track and Field event that slips under the radar for most fans in the United States, but is seeing a spike in performance locally.
“That’s the main key,” Clauson said. “It’s not so much how big you are. It’s the power you generate during your run up, your transition, your throw.”
The event may not be huge around the country, but the Cascade Conference features two of the top throwers in the state in Clauson and Archbishop Murphy’s Matthew Downey.
Clauson’s top 2011 throw of 206 feet, 5 inches is tied with Sean Keller of Heritage H.S. (Vancouver) atop the national charts, while Downey’s best this year (182 feet) broke the Murphy school record and is nearly 10 feet better than the next best thrower at the 2A level.
Though both are seniors, they have different backgrounds, stories and even body types.
Clauson’s body type is one that has many traditional Javelin people scratching their heads.
King’s track coach Daunte Gouge describes his star athlete as, “165 pounds soaking wet.”
At about 5-foot-11 Clauson definitely carries more of a sprinter’s frame, which helped him capture state titles in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles as well as the triple jump in the 1A state meet a year go.
“It’s fun to watch other kids see him throw for the first time,” Gouge said. “They see this little small guy and then all of a sudden they see the javelin land and then you see kids heads turn. The fun part is going to big meets where people really don’t know who he is. When his name is called — people know his name — they shake their head. You see all these double takes, ‘Is that really him, that kid throws that far?'”
Clauson takes his competitors initial disbelief in stride, but is quick to defend smaller-statured throwers whom he points out are generally more consistent than brute-force hurlers like those that throw javelin and discus.
Downey possesses more of a traditional body type for the javelin, which is how he ended up picking up the event his sophomore year, while exploring other track and field events.
“I just thought it was interesting,” Downey said. “I’m kind of a big guy, so I’m not much of a runner. I thought I’d try some throwing events and I think javelin’s the best one.”
Downey measures in at 6-foot-1 and weighs in the high 190s. A lot of people focus on size but the true javelin experts know that technique is what separates a good thrower from a great one.
Fred Luke, a former Olympian, has been the volunteer javelin coach for Archbishop Murphy for five years and worked with Downey since he first picked up the rubber tipped spear as a sophomore.
“It takes time to develop the technique,” Luke said. “We’ve been working on things for three years and finally he’s starting to get a few of those things down. It just takes time.”
Technique is what sets Clauson ahead of virtually all the rest of the throwers, and it’s what caught the eye of the University of Washington, where he will attend on a full track scholarship in the fall.
During the state decathlon in 2010, Clauson tossed his personal record, 212-9. Even Downey is a bit awed by the accomplishment.
“He has great form.” Downey said. “I try to copy him sometimes.
“Everyone knows his name. You hear Curtis Clauson and it’s the javelin throw guy. I respect his throws and I hope to learn from him.”
One thing both Clauson and Downey share is the respect and admiration of their teammates. Both have been awarded captain honors and are leaders, which helps their coaches, who have the tough task of trying to wrangle 90-plus athletes on a daily basis.
“It’s nice for the underclassmen to see,” Murphy coach Shannon O’Neill-Bieda said of Downey’s record-breaking marks and personal growth. “He’s a very quiet person, but to get out there and be ferocious and be tough is nice.”
Clauson has been a captain for two years and has become basically another coach in the javelin for King’s. He has been a big part in the development of fellow senior Slater Hirst, whose best throw of the year (184-2) is third in the state at the 1A level and seventh in all classifications.
“He’s helped me a lot,” Hirst said. “Just looking at his form. What he does. I just shadow his routine with my own. Just a lot of respect. Everything he does in phenomenal.”
Though both Clauson and Downey have already reached the highest level in the state this season, they are by no means satisfied and have serious goals ahead.
Downey finished ninth in the state a year ago and hopes to make the state finals, which he just missed out on in 2010.
Oh, and he wants to catch Clauson.
“That’s another goal,” Downey said. “To get up with him.”
Clauson meanwhile hopes to take his game to a completely new level.
“I’m number one in the nation, but that’s not even close to my goal this year,” Clauson said of his 2011 high. “It’s not even close to my PR either. It still hasn’t stopped my fuel for what I want this year.”
Clauson has 230 feet in his sights and with his work ethic and other talents, he has the ability to not only reach that goal, but also capture three or four other events in the 1A state meet while he’s at it.
“It’s going to be a monstrous loss next year,” Gouge said. “Not only in the points, but just in the type of kid he is.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
