Pumped and excited for the Prefontaine Classic! Before the meet I was mentally trying to calm myself and prepare myself for anything. Flashbacks of 2010 NCAA Championships, in the rain, flashed in my mind, and the fact that I could fail to throw far finally entered my head when I walked through the door under the west grandstands.

My body feels as if it is in the condition to throw a personal best at any given time, but how your body feels and how things happen, are two entirely different things. I have been able to put off the excitement of the Prefontaine Classic for a surprising amount of time. With the meet held in my home city I was able to stay busy working, eating the same foods, and I was going about my life normally. I practically didn't even realize I had a huge meet coming up today.

I finally checked into the meet at 10:30am (competition starts at 11:21am) and spotted the Czech Republic javelin throwers Vitezslav Vesely and Petr Frydrych and that is when the competition became "real." I was warming up for the meet like as if it were a University of Oregon meet, with lots of time to get ready, but with scheduled check-ins, that I did not expect, my warm-up was cut short.

As the group of javelin throwers were escorted to the javelin runway I was greeted by a dozen people with, "Good luck Cyrus!" It seemed as if I was a rockstar at the meet and everyone knew my name. I can only imagine what the other throwers were thinking, but jealousy and disgust are probably a couple words that come to mind. They must have thought who was I, the worst thrower in the javelin field, to be receiving such praise? I enjoyed the encouragement from all; it was definitely a confidence boost going onto the field.

We put on our spikes and I finished stretching before we went out to do short tosses in the field. When we started to pick I threw my javelin maybe 60 feet starting slow and building up to the bigger throws. Latvian, Vadims Vasilevskis made fun of me saying that I got two throws for their one, as he threw his javelin considerably farther. I had two options; start throwing father to not look foolish to the other experienced men, or keep on doing the regular warm-up and sacrifice my pride.

I sacrificed my pride and kept throwing my usual short throws. I knew that if I did what I am used to I could produce far throws in competitions, but if I chose to win warm-ups there was a good chance I could get hurt. I continued my foolish looking warm-up onto the runway, and I am sure had the other guys wondering, but I managed some good warm up throws from short approach.

First throw was 256ft; a great start to the competition but a little disappointing; I know I can throw much further. Second throw was not very clean and it was very high in the Hayward head wind, but soared just passed the 80m line at 265'10" (81.02m). It was an early good throw that kept me in the mix, but I was still in search of that big throw.

I was bouncing around with Latvian, Vadims Vasilevskis and World leader Stuart Farquhar for second and third place early in the meet until the third round when Czech thrower Vitezslav Vesely edged me out by only 7cm (81.09m). I had been bumped to 4th place.

My goal was to compete in the top three in the competition and I knew I was right there; I was ready to throw a big throw at any moment. The leader was at 273'9" (83.44m) just a few inches further than my personal best. I knew if I could make some minor adjustments I could make some vast improvements in my throws and take the lead.

As the competition pushed along the crowd started filling into their seats, and it was fueling the other throwers to bigger marks and consistent throws over 80m. The lead was exchanged once more, and I grew further from third place, but I knew the meet could be won at any moment with just one throw.

I struggled towards the end of my series a bit as my body fatigued and failed to challenge the leaders. I finished in fourth place with 265'10" a new season best and defeating some great throwers in the process. The winner eventually was the Latvian Vadims Vasilevskis on his final throw; he threw a meet record of 277'9" (84.65m).

My first Diamond League appearance was a little bitter sweet, because I know I have it in me to throw much, much further and could have stolen the win. But I take plenty of positives away from this meet as well.

Successful competition in my first world class meet
80m+ two meets in a row
New season best
Progressing each meet
Beat Russian Sergey Makarov (3rd all time – PR 92.61m - 303'10")
Beat Petr Frydrych (PR - 88.23m – 289'6")
Best placing in a Diamond League/Golden League competition by a US men's javelin thrower since 2007
First 80m+ throw at Hayward Field since April 4, 2009
Moved up to second best throw in the US in 2012
5th time throwing 80m+
Feeling very healthy

I finish this meet with a lot of people proud of me and cheering for me to make the Olympic Games (which are just 20 days away for me). I am so happy to have the support; I feel like I am the peoples champion and the meet is still so far away. I am still taking it one step at a time, and I know that with the results I have been having in my first two meets, I will be throwing even father at the Olympic Trials. I am happy and healthy, and that's all that matters to me in the world.

Register Guard Article
Oregonian Article

Also I will be having a silent auction on an autographed Prefontaine Classic Bib that I wore today. All proceeds will go towards my training expenses to get to the Olympic Games this year. Every little bit helps. If you are interested please facebook message me, write me a direct message on twitter, email me, or use my contact form on my website. Serious bids only please.

Multiple bids will be accepted and the auction will end June 5th at midnight pacific time. You will be notified June 6th if you win. Bib will not be sent until payment has been processed online or delivered by mail.

Glory to God, Stay Healthy, Throw Far. 2012

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