Dispatches from Eugene - NJ at The Trials

Dispatches from Eugene

Highlighting Jersers at The Trials

By: George Kochman, jr.

The United States Olmpic Track and Field trials aere nearing the end of the 2 day, mid meet break and our newest contibutor, George Kochman, jr was able to talk to some of the many New Jersey natives who took part in the best track meet in the country this year. George will be back later in the week with more as he reports from Track Town USA.

Travis Mahoney - Old Bridge HS '08

He was last in his 3,000-meter steeplechase heat at yesterday’s Olympic Trials, but he was smiling afterwards. After all, he’s come a long way in a short time. A few months ago, only a few die-hard track fans were aware of Travis Mahoney, a Temple University senior.He entered the Trials with optimism, but the 21 year-old may have been one of the least-experienced runners in an event that takes strength, focus, and courage.

 At Old Bridge HS, he was a good runner, with a resume that included a sub- 4:20- 1,600 meters, and a sub- 9:20 3,200. Good, some promise, but nothing spectacular, because for much of his career, he was overshadowed by others in his area.Craig Forys of Colts Neck was one of the nation’s best, and he was the leader of an all-star team from Colts Neck. And then, there was always CBA (Christian Brothers Academy), a school always making headlines.“In high school, I wasn’t great,” he said. “I was usually just trying to make it to the state meet.”

 But he acquired a good background through some fine coaching by Jack Campbell, and headed to Philadelphia, where he was again, a good, but unspectacular runner.Under the tutelage of coach Matt Jelley, a Toms River North product, things began to change during the 2011 indoor season.“I buckled down,” he said, and turned in a personal-best 4:11 mile and a 2:57 1,200-meter relay leg. That led to steady improvement outdoors. “My times don’t show it, but I was improving all around,” said Mahoney. “And I got a pb at the 5,000.”

 This year, there was a big breakthrough. Aggressive running brought him All-American honors, and a qualifier for yesterday’s Trials race. Despite the joy of being All American in the Des Moines race a few weeks ago, there was trouble. Coming off the last water jump, Mahoney injured an ankle while landing awkwardly. “I couldn’t run for four days,” he noted, “and I haven’t done any barrier work since. I was hoping that the leg would hold up, because I was on a roll.”

 Running in wet Eugene, against the nation’s elite, a rusty Mahoney was far off his best, running 8:54.03, and finishing 23rd in the 24-man field. That didn’t dampen his enthusiasm, as Mahoney feels there’s room for a world of improvement. He’s just beginning to tap his potential. “I know I have a lot more left,” he said. “”I’ve been at this level for only 14 months, and I’m only doing about 70 miles a week, so I feel I have fresh legs.”

 He realizes that he’s a such a novice to high level competition, adding, “I’m usually used to having my season end in May.”There’s no reason to give up now. “I’m looking forward to taking this thing further,” he said. “I’m hoping someone (a shoe company) is willing to take a risk.”
 

Justin Frick - Freehold Boro '06

It’s hard to be happy when you’re so close to being an Olympian, but Justin Frick was overjoyed at yesterday’s fifth-place tie finish in the Olympic trials high jump final. Jumping in a steady rain, on a wet runway, the 6 feet, 5 inch, 180 lb. Freehold Township grad was one of two jumpers in the final to turn in a personal-best performance, clearing 2.25 meters (7 feet, 4.5 inches).  Frick had no illusions about making the Olympic team, as he hadn’t come close to the Olympic ‘A’ standard. Then there was the competition. He was in the final, but. …

 At Freehold Township HS, Frick had cleared 6-10.5, and had raised that mark to 7-2.5 at Princeton. He had won two Heptagonal championships, and an IC4A title. Then came a move to Oregon, where he became a training partner of Jesse Williams, the World champion at Daegu in 2011. “I got to be fairly consistent in the 7-2, 7-3 range,” he said, adding, “I got used to the weather out here.”

 So he was on familiar turf under normal conditions. Frick saw that as an advantage.During his warm-ups, Frick uses his practice jumps to build additional confidence. Good clearances in practice usually bode well. But yesterday, there were misses, but “every time I missed, I still felt great. They were great practice jumps.”
Frick added, “This was the same as Saturday. I rained- I let it get into my head, and I was very confident.”Afterwards, there were no tears,, just a big grin.“It went great out there,” he said. “I felt fantastic, even on the misses.”

 And he thinks it’s important that he saved his personal best for a clutch situation. Fifth at the Olympic Trials is no small achievement, but international meet directors don’t exactly come knocking at the door- yet.There may be one more competition for Frick this summer- a meet in Canada. Then he’s leaving Oregon and coming back east, where he will be an assistant coach at Princeton this fall, while training for next year.

 No trip to London, but Frick is delighted. He saved his best for the big moment, setting a personal best under adverse conditions in a high-pressure situation.
“I think I picked a good day to do it,” he said.
 

Adam Kuehl - Monmouth Regional HS '03

“I just didn’t have it today,’ said Adam Kuehl after finishing 10th in the discus in Group A at yesterday’s Olympic Trials held at a wet Hayward Field.
Everything leading up to the meet had been positive for the 28 year-old graduate of Monmouth Regional in Tinton Falls. But it fell apart early, and Kuehl had no excuses.

The 6 feet, 2 inch, 255 lb. Kuehl has been one of America’s best discus throwers for close to a decade.In high school, he won the Golden West title, and was a nationally-ranked shotputter as well. Then it was off to Arizona, where he won a national Junior title in the disc, added a silver medal at the junior Pan-American Games, won the NACAC championship (2006), while garnering several All America certificates.

Seventh at the 2008 Trials, and twice a fourth-place finisher at the National championships, Kuehl felt good coming into the meet. Recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Masters degree in Athletic Administration, he had a seasonal best of over 205 feet. He had every reason to be optimistic.

But yesterday, he managed 56.61 meters (185-8), completing a rare off-day.
“I felt real good, even in the rain,” he said, “but I just didn’t have it.”There’s a lot going on in Kuehl’s professional life these days. He’s off to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he will become the strength coach at CSU, a position he held at Oklahoma. Kuehl rarely gets back to the east coast these days. “I make it back for Mark Mirabelli’s throws camp,” he says.

Kuehl treated the disappointing performance philosophically. ‘There’s winners and there’s losers,” he said, adding, “You have to learn to be both.” Kuehl, only 28 years old, is “shutting it down this year,’ but there’s no thought of retirement.
“I’ll get ready for another four years of training,’ he said. “I can’t finish up like this.”
 

About the Author