First Day at JavFest Spotlights High School Throwers; King Breaks South Carolina Record, Lowe Comes Up Big On Final Attempt

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by John Nepolitan 

Eliza King from Aiken SC needed to borrow a javelin as Friday's elite high school competition got started at the American JavFest in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

The sophomore was ready for a breakthrough performance regardless. King improved from US#15 to US#2 during the course of the competition and moved No. 19 on the all-tme list with 168-10 (51.46m) on her sixth and final attempt. 

That also broke the South Carolina all-time best. Earlier this spring she won the South Carolina Class 4A title with 146-10 (44.75m). 

Kelly Leszcynski from Nazareth PA was second in the elite girls competition with 152-8 (46.53m).

Brooks Lowe from Blue Valley West KS, the Kansas Class 6A runner-up, launched a big PR on his sixth and final throw, 213-2 (64.97m), to move up from fifth place to first. His mark moved him to US#9 for the season and tacked on more than eight feet to his state championship best in late May. 

The sixth round of throws in the boys competition saw the standings completely reshuffled. The leader through five rounds, Cole Crkvenac of New Smyrna Beach FL, the Florida 3A champion, finished fifth. 

Max Cute from Johnston RI was second with 211-8 (64.51m).