National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

The Kultan Keihas Javelin Project has been building a reputation as somewhere young, talented javelinists go to get better – as well as having an amazing international experience at the Mecca of the event in Finland.  With the influx of three new athletes into this National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) program for the 2013-14 campaign – in addition to the five returnees – that rep is almost certain to grow.

It was announced last month that 161-footer Karen Bulger from Washington would join the group.  Now the Project has welcomed the #2- and #3-ranked sophomore girls in the nation into the fold – Tairyn Montgomery from California and Emma Fitzgerald from Massachusetts.  In fact, Kultan Keihas now includes the top four female returnees in the nation heading into the upcoming season – Bulger, Katelyn Gochenour, Montgomery and Fitzgerald.

The three sophomores, in fact, had a great showdown in July at the USATF JOs: Montgomery winning with a national JO record 155-1, ahead of Fitzgerald 149-5 and Gochenour 146-1.  Those were PRs for the first two, but Gochenour had a best of 156-8 from a few weeks earlier – right after she got back from Finland, where she won the Javelin Carnival Pihtipudas’s Most Valuable Performer award.

“We're quite excited to have Karen, Tairyn and Emma joining our program this fall,” said Project manager and coach Jeff Gorski.  “Each of them have had good success so far, with distances that are close to, if not in, the top 10 nationally.  That they are all so young and raw, technically, is what's so exciting.  I'd been aware of them all season, and the new application process required showed us that they are all really serious about improving their abilities and results by taking javelin so seriously. While all three of them have fairly long life best throws, they are very different in how they have reached these results.”

The first domestic clinic for 2013-14 is set for Oct. 17-20 at Coach Gorski's Chapel Hill facility.  Here are some more thoughts on each athlete from the coach – as well as thoughts on getting involved with the program and more from each newcomer herself:

Karen Bulger

Northwest Christian (Lacey, Wash.) Class of 2014
PR: 161-5 (US#3 and top non-senior in 2013)
Notes: Unbeaten state Class 2B champ ... PR came in Pasco Invite Apr. 13 ... six other meets beyond 150 feet ... won USATF Youth title (17-18 women) with 148-6 ... was 2nd in World Youth Trials (behind Fitzgerald) with 166-3 (lighter 500 kg javelin), but no javelin throwers were selected for Team USA.

Coach Gorski: Karen has had the most success, in terms of distance, of the three. Coming from a state with a great HS javelin history, she's making a name for herself at a young age and more than holding up the Pacific NW javelin tradition!  She's had a lot of reps already and developed good throwing power.  She has a lot “in the tank.”Once she can tap into that reserve, things will really fly!

Karen’s comments: See previous story.

Tairyn Montgomery

Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) Class of 2016
PR: 155-9 (US#7 and #3 non-senior in 2013)
Notes: Her PR won the USATF JOs (15-16 girls) over Fitzgerald and Gochenour ... also took 6th in the JO heptathlon with 4,186 pts ... in 2012 won the USATF JO Youth Girls division over Gochenour with a then-PR 151-3 ... also competed in the jumps, sprints and hurdles for Redondo during the 2013 school year.

Coach Gorski: Tairyn is quite fast and explosive.  She really seems to just attack the throw with everything she's got.  When she can really focus, and direct all that power and speed, she'll really start stretching tape measures!  She has already shown “big meet” skills, having won her age group national titles in 2012 and 2013.

Tairyn's comments:

How she found out about the project: My throwing coach, Debbie, was talking to her friend Coach Gloria Allgood about camps where she could send her older javelin throwers.  She spoke of a program in North Carolina that helped her daughter, Avione.  My coach told my mom and then the search was on.  My mom searched the internet for all available programs.  Once we realized there was a project available for javelin throwers to improve, there was no way I wasn't going to throw my hat in the ring.

Her reaction to being chosen for the project:  I was really ecstatic, because I realize what an awesome and amazing opportunity the project offers.  It’s a blessing to have others who love and believe in your sport, and are willing to invest in making it better.  I know this will be a new experience for me, learning new techniques to improve my throwing and competing at an advanced level.  I guess I am both anxious and motivated to start this new program.  I look forward to meeting all of the new people and being challenged to rise to the next level.

Her goals with the project:  First, I hope to improve my distance, but I also want to learn about and absorb the different aspects of throwing.  I am not just talking about the physical action of throwing, but all of the underlining aspects that make up an elite thrower.  I am hoping to gain and grow in all aspects of the javelin, because I am trying to remain injury-free and compete some day at the top level.

Her thoughts about traveling to Finland next summer:  I am very excited about traveling to Finland!  I keep telling all my friends about it (and if you know me, that's not what I do), and while they try and act like they aren't jealous(I know they are), who wouldn't be?  This is an amazing opportunity.  To compete in the country where the javelin is a major pastime leaves me speechless.  I can't wait.  It gives me an opportunity to see what it feels like going outside of the United States and competing in my event, as my dreams are to someday represent my country in the Olympics.

Her athletic background and competing in an event that’s not part of her state’s offering of events: Well, my dad always says I am a natural athlete.  I find that sports do come easy for me.  I have participated in volleyball, competitive cheerleading and all aspects of track and field.  I started running at the age of five for my youth track team.  I must say it was “love at first run” and I have ran every year since then. 
Honestly, I discovered the javelin by accident.  My throwing coach, Debbie, was begging my mom to bring me out for throwing practice.  She saw the same athletic girl my dad saw.  My mom keep saying no, we are at that track four days a week with relay practice.  So my coach started on my dad (he is easier to convince). 
My dad took me to practice and I was a natural. I had so much success that I became a national 13/14 and 15/16 year-old javelin champion.  It is more difficult for me to compete here in California, but I try and compete in as many youth meets that are available during the season.  My mom and I have thought about trying to petition the CIF to bring back javelin as a sanctioned event, with all the opportunities there are to throw in college.  I believe I could do very well.

Emma Fitzgerald

Thayer Academy (Braintree, Mass.) Class of 2016
PR: 149-5 (US#12 and #4 non-senior for 2013)
Notes:  Won the World Youth Trials with a 167-10 (with the lighter 500kg javelin), but Team USA selected no one in the event ... was also 3rd in the heptathlon at the Trials with 4,652 points ... her 149-5 PR came in taking 2nd in the USATF JOs, 15-16 age group, to Montgomery ... also won the heptathlon at USATF JOs with a 4,698 PR, and took 4th in the HJ (5-5) as well.

Coach Gorski: Emma is a really talented all-around athlete.  She is tall and whippy and can run, jump and throw very well quite naturally.  She may be the most raw of the three, but she reminds me a bit of Haley Crouser in her stature and natural talents.  Once she gets an understanding of what works and why, she's going to have a lot of fun... and be making long walks to get her spear!

How she found out about the project:  My coach was sent an email and immediately told me, saying that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Her reaction to being chosen for the project:   It was one of the most gratifying things that has ever happened to me. To know that such accomplished people in the sport think I'm worthy of an opportunity like this is mind-blowing.

Her goals with the project:   I am hoping to improve my competitive edge in competition, and push myself past my limits in practice. I want to break records next year (my own records).

Her thoughts about traveling to Finland next summer:  Never having been out of the country before, I am both scared and nervous. I have no idea what to expect, but I don't think I’ve ever been more excited about something in my life.

Her thoughts about whether she feels more like a javelinist or a heptathlete:   The answer to this question changes on a daily basis. On a bad day in the jav, I will just consider myself a heptathlete, even sometimes single out another event, as opposed to the jav.  One day, I will consider myself a hurdler, or high jumper; I only feel like a pure-bred javelin thrower when I win big meets.  But my heart has always been in throwing.

Other sports she has a passion for:  I usually play basketball in the fall, winter, and spring, but this year I am cutting down to just one or two seasons to focus on track.  I am also very into Ultimate Frisbee, badminton, tennis, and soccer, but I do not do those on teams. I also enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding and surfing.

Returnees to the Project from 2012-13:

Todd Ogden, Glacier (Kalispell, Mont.) Class of 2014
PR: 211-11 (US#4 for 2013)
Notes: Achieved PR at Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival in July ... won 2A state meet with 210-8 ... also won state titles as a frosh and soph, exceeding 190 feet each time.

Trevor Danielson, Newberg (Ore.) Class of 2014
PR: 206-0 (US#8 for 2013)
Notes: Hit his PR while winning the Jesuit Twilight Relays in May ... was 4th in a very tough Oregon 6A state meet with a 199-10 ... won several other meets with consistency at mid-180s or better.

Josh Richter, Mead (Spokane, Wash.) Class of 2015
PR: 183-6 (US#2 frosh in 2012)
Notes: Showed good potential when he threw 183-6 as a frosh, but injuries slowed his 2013 progress.

Katelyn Gochenour, Marian (Omaha, Neb.) Class of 2016
PR: 156-8 (US#6 and #3 frosh in 2013)
Notes: Captured the 15-and-Under and 17-and-Under divisions at the Javelin Carnival Pihtipudas to earn MVP award there ... hit her career best 156-8 at her USATF JO region meet shortly after returning from Finland ... a tough 3rd in showdown with Montgomery and Fitzgerald at USATF JOs nationals ... threw 151-7 as an 8th-grader in 2012.

Kristen Clark, Ruston (La.) Class of 2014
PR: 139-5
Notes: Got attention as a frosh in 2011 when she won 4A state and threw 136-9 ... hit her PR in 2013 with a 5th at NBNO ... also won the Mobile Challenge, was 2nd in LA 5A state and 3rd at Great Southwest.