Former Hog raring to go at U.S. trials

BY BOB HOLT

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/230296/

FAYETTEVILLE — These are busy days for Eric Brown.

The former Arkansas Razorback is trying to make the United States Olympic team in the javelin while completing his master’s degree in business and working part time as a bank teller.

“Doing it all at the same time is pretty tough,” Brown said recently before leaving for Eugene, Ore., where he will compete in the U. S. Olympic trials. “I’m anxious to get things done and start doing something new.”

Brown will complete work on his master’s degree in a few more weeks, after competing in the javelin qualifying round Friday. The final is Sunday.

“I’ve never thrown on a holiday like the Fourth of July before,” Brown said. “That should be pretty fun, and hopefully I can create some fireworks of my own with some big throws.”

How well Brown, 24, throws at the trials may decide whether he continues to compete in the javelin or is ready to put his degree to use and focus full time on a career in finance.

“I love throwing the javelin, but it’s tough to do if you’re not competing really well,” said Brown, a three-time All-American at Arkansas and the 2006 SEC champion. “We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Brown comes into the trials with a career best of 256 feet, 3 inches, that he threw at the Kansas Relays in 2006. His best this season is 251-10 at a meet in Emporia, Kan., on April 5.

“That was my first meet of the year, so you would have thought I would have thrown better by now,” Brown said. “My body feels good, but it just hasn’t been flying as far as I want.”

Maybe he’s saving up his big throws for the trials ?

“I’d like to think that,” Brown said. “I do think I’m ready to throw it pretty far.”

Brown will have to throw a personal best by nearly 12 feet if he wants to compete at the Olympics.

The Olympic standard for the javelin is 268, and an American has to reach that mark to throw at the Olympics regardless of whether he finishes in the top three at the trials.

“If I throw [268 ] at the trials, I’m confident I’ll be going to the Olympics,” Brown said. “It will be tough for three other people to throw that far.”

Andrew McDonagh, an Arkansas volunteer assistant for the javelin throwers who continues to help coach Brown, said Brown is capable of making the Olympic team.

“I expect him to go to the trials and throw farther than he has all year,” McDonagh said. “I expect him to realize, ‘Hey, this could be my last track meet ever, and it’s now or never.’ I expect him to step up because of that.”

Brown said he began giving serious consideration to the Olympics his sophomore year at Arkansas, when he threw 246-3 to finish third at the NCAA championships.

“I just started throwing the javelin in high school, so the Olympics never entered my mind back then,” Brown said. “But then when I made that big jump at Arkansas when I was sophomore, that got me thinking about the Olympics.

“ That’s what the last two years really have been about, getting ready for the trials. That’s been my focus, and now it all comes down to what I can do this week.” Brown at a glance EVENT Javelin AGE 24 (born June 17, 1984 ) COLLEGE Arkansas HIGH SCHOOL Baldwin, Kan. CURRENT RESIDENCE Fayetteville CAREER BEST Arkansas record-holder with 256-3 at the 2006 Kansas Relays CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Three-time All-American at Arkansas, taking second at the NCAA meet in 2006, third in 2004 and fourth in 2005.... 2006 SEC champion.... Competed at 2007 World Championships and 2004 Olympic trials. NOTEWORTHY Completing work on a master’s degree in business while training for the Olympic trials.