Curtis Thompson added another remarkable chapter to his amazing career when he once again rose to the occasion when it mattered most as the New Jersey native blew out the competition to win his fourth title in the men's javelin and make his second Olympic Team at Sunday's U.S. Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Thompson, a 2014 graduate of Florence High, has come up with several clutch throws in the later rounds to rally for victories. But this time there was no drama as Thompson unloaded a first round bomb of 272-5, the second best throw in meet history, to end any suspense on his way to a second straight title. Thompson won by 11 feet, 5 inches over Capers Williamson, who placed second with a 261-0. Williamson, sixth at the Olympic Trials in 2021, also finished second to Thompson at the U.S. Championships last year.
The 272-5 by Thompson is his season best, the fifth best throw of his career, and it came within 8 inches of the meet record of 273-1, set by Cyrus Hosletler in 2016 when he edged runner-up Thompson for the win.
Thompson, who also had throws of 242-6 and 264-11 and three fouls on Sunday night, has won three of the last 4 U.S. titles in the javelin and four overall (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024). He joins a very short list of NJ high school graduates who have won four or more U.S. National Outdoor Championships in the men's competition.
Not sure on the exact number yet, but so far Reuben Frank and I have come up with six other NJ high school grads who have won at least 4 national outdoor titles on the men's side. Carl Lewis (13), Eulace Peacock (8), Mel Sheppard (5), Marty Liquori (5), Andy Stanfield (4) and Dennis Mitchell (4). We are aiming to have a final list on Monday.
With the victory, Thompson secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Paris from Aug. 2-11. Thompson placed 22nd at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The women's 800-meter semifinals featured three NJ legends and a former standout at Monmouth University.
Two of them, reigning Olympic champ and U.S. record holder Athing Mu (Trenton, Class of 2020), and Allie Wilson, who starred at Strath Haven High in Pa. before graduating from Monmouth University in 2019, advanced to Monday's final at 10:32 p.m.
Two-time Olympian Ajee' Wilson (Neptune, Class of 2012), and Olivia Baker (Columbia, Class of 2014) failed to advance.
Mu, who has only been training for a short time after a hamstring injury in April set her back, tore down the final straight to rally to win her heat in 1:58.84, the fastest of all the qualifiers in Monday's 9-runner final. Mu split 58.55/60.29.
Allie Wilson ran a flawless race, going wire-to-wire to comfortably win her semifinal heat in 2:00.29. Wilson, who finished 6th in the 800 final at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, went out in 59.88 and finished in 60.41.
Ajee' Wilson, needing to finish in the top two in her heat to make the final, finished third in 2:01.25. Baker, in the same heat as Ajee', finished fifth in 2:01.50.