Lake Forest Park teen-ager Michael Davis picked up a national title to go with his state and school records.

The King’s High School sophomore-to-be took first in his age group in the javelin at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic National Championships Aug. 2 at Miami’s Tropical Park Stadium.

With just two throws remaining, Davis was stuck in second place.

“I was freaking out,” Davis confessed. “I didn’t think I was going to win.”

Davis, 15, finally secured the lead on his fifth toss, then recorded a career-best heave of 180 feet on his final attempt. The next closest finisher in the intermediate division (ages 15-16) was more than 14 feet back.

In the spring, Davis placed sixth at the Class 1A state meet behind five seniors with a throw of 170 feet, 8 inches. He owns the state record for the best mark by a freshman and ranks fourth on King’s all-time list.

The javelin wasn’t a focus for Davis until a broken ankle sidelined him from any running events less than a month into the season.

“I couldn’t do anything else, so I picked up the javelin. I could still throw,” Davis said. “At the first meet I got first and every meet after I got better and better.”

At the beginning of the summer Davis switched to a rotational throwing technique. The change paid off right away, as Davis went from reaching 150 to 160 feet to distances well over 170 feet.

“It’s a European throwing style,” Davis said. “It usually takes people two or three years to pick it up. I got it instantly.”

Though few high school athletes master it, the rotational technique is common for more experienced throwers.

“It’s really hard to learn,” King’s track coach Daunte Gouge said. “Michael grasped it in a couple days.”

Davis will begin strength training in November and is hoping to add at least another 20 feet to his marks next season.

“Next year I want to break 200 (feet), maybe 205,” he said.

Gouge doesn’t expect those numbers to pose a problem.

“With his work ethic, the sky’s the limit if he sticks with it,” Gouge said. “He’s going to be fun to watch the next three years.”