When Casey Malone was winning three conference titles and the 1998 NCAA championship while attending Colorado State, he competed in four of the five throw events held indoors and outdoors.
Malone went on to place sixth in the 2004 Olympic Games in the discus and is now a top assistant coach for CU.
In an interesting twist, the one event Malone did not compete in, the javelin throw, is the event his CU athletes are deepest in heading into the key part of the collegiate track season.
Colorado has five javelin throwers all good enough to score in the May 16-18 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, set for Potts Field on CU's east campus.
Today, the javelin throwers and the most of the CU track team will compete in the Colorado Invitational, the final home meet before next month's conference tilt. The invitational gets underway with the throws at 10 a.m. The running events begin at 2 p.m. with the women's steeplechase.
"In my time here, this is the best group of javelin throwers we have had," said head coach Mark Wetmore. "I enjoy the javelin; it is a beautiful event, and fun to watch. We have three really good javelin throwers, and absolutely I expect them to score (at the Big 12 meet)."
Those three top javelin throwers are sophomores Kevin Fasing and Brandin Williams, and senior Chase Dukes. In addition, Matt Crawford and Kevin Waldron are both throwing well enough to sneak into the top eight places and score at the Big 12 meet.
"We have some strong depth in the men's javelin," said Malone, who is the Colorado Invitational meet director. "We are fortunate in that we had some walk-ons who are very talented and who work hard. It is really exciting, and ironic that the event I have the least experience competing in is the one we have the most depth in. I am really enjoying coaching these guys. It is a fun group."
Malone has not been enjoying battling the winter weather the past week. Last year, the Colorado Invitational was canceled because of a sheet of ice that covered the track after a storm. The forecast for today calls for cooler weather, but without major snowfall. And Malone said it would take a very big storm to cancel the meet this year.
More than 400 athletes from 23 different schools will be competing. Late Thursday, Nebraska's Chadron State called Malone and asked to be added to the meet.
"We have a full field," said Malone. "This will be a good preparation meet for us, and a good way to get some experience before hosting the Big 12 Championships. That is my primary focus."
There has been a lot of activity at Potts during the past week, as crews work to get the facility ready for the conference meet. Stands have arrived, the two shot put rings are finished, and some new sod has been laid.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Boulder Road Runners head Rich Castro is looking for volunteers to work the Big 12 Championships. A variety of tasks need to be filled, form moving hurdles to helping the meet announcer. There is no pay, but volunteers get entry into the meet and a Big 12 shirt. For details, e-mail Castro at [email protected] or call (303) 449-6650.
