Curtis Thompson Throws PR In Javelin, Valarie Allman Launches Meet Record In Discus

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Bob Daemmrich photos

Curtis Thompson threw the longest mark by an American javelin thrower in nearly 18 years on Friday when he increased his own personal best by six centimeter (or two inches) with a big season opening performance at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. 

Thompson caught a big throw on his second attempt, which sailed 287 feet, 11 inches (87.76m). He also threw 276-11 (84.41m) on his third try. He took four of his allotted six attempts. 

Thompson's performance came after Valarie Allman, two-time Olympic champion, broke her meet and facility record in the discus with 218-11 (66.72m). 

Allman's best throw didn't sail into her personal top 10, but it was a phenomenal throw to begin the season and it's still nearly six months away from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 

On the track, TCU freshman Indya Mayberry picked up where she left off at the NCAA Indoor Championships where she won the 60-meters title. She blitzed through the prelim of the women's 100 meter in 11.22 seconds and will race that final on Saturday. 

James Dadzie of West Texas A&M was the fastest qualifier for the men at 10.22. 

British athlete Elizabeth Korczak, of Iowa, won the women's javelin with a throw of 189-3 (57.69m), getting that number on her first throw. Her lead came under pressure in the fifth round when UCLA's Jana van Schalkwyk threw 185-3 (56.47m). 

Texas' Akala Garrett won the invitational women's 400-meter hurdles in meet record time of 55.49 seconds after earlier running 13.09 in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles. 

In the non-Invitational women's 400 hurdles, Arkansas' Rachel Glenn won the event in 54.86.

In high school action, Ewan Curtis from Liberty Christian TX broke a meet record in the prelims of the D1 boys 110-meter hurdles when he ran 13.63 seconds. 

Jasmine Robinson of North Cobb GA, a junior, broke the meet record in the girls 300-meter hurdles when she ran 40.12 seconds. That broke Ebony Collins' junior class record from 2006 (40.13). 

Anisa Bowen-Fontenot of San Diego CA, the California state champion, ran a personal best time of 13.54 seconds in the prelims of the D2 girls 100-meter hurdles. Her freshman brother, Jasir Fontenot, ran 13.85 for the top prelim time in the boys D2 section, becoming the first ninth grader to go under 14 seconds. 

Sophia Bendet of Universal City Randolph TX won the girls 1,600 meters in 4:44.99, coming within half a second of the meet record. 

Gavin Chapa from San Antonio Reagan won the boys 1,600 in 4:07.82. 

In the boys discus, Ashton Hearn from Christian Brothers TN threw a US#1 mark of 211-5, which was also an all-time Tennessee best. He won by 18 feet. 

Lake Creek TX broke the meet record in the girls sprint medley relay with 3:54.96. That time is fast enough to crack the all-time top 20. 

Long Beach Wilson CA won the boys sprint medley with 3:22.69.

Taylor Wiseman from Childress TX won the girls discus with 157-4. 

Graham Murphy of Heritage Hall OK won the boys high jump with his clearance at 7-0.25 (2.14m). 

Cali Bryant from Houston Memorial TX won the girls high jump at 5-8.

Victor Olesen from St. Christopher's VA won the boys pole vault with a clearance at 17-4.50 on his third attempt (5.30m).