National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Photos, from top: 1) Todd Ogden, Grayson Hill and Trevor Danielson during Thursday's first training session; 2) Coach Kinnunen, Jami Kinnunen, Kristen Clark and Ogden during training; 3) Coach Krammes makes a point.

As any true connoisseur of this track and field event knows, there’s something special about the javelin and Finland.  It’s not just that this Northern European country is basically the historical and competitive epicenter of the jav.  It’s something that you can only know if you come here to train, watch, observe, soak it in.

“You’re allowed to love it here,” says NSAF coach Barry Krammes.  That’s what it really comes down to.

That’s why as part of the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation’s Project Javelin Gold, the program’s eight student-athletes (actually, nine on this trip) DO come here, to the Olympic Training Center in Kuortane, Finland, about four hours north of Helsinki.  If the Project is going to achieve its true goals of preparing young, talented javelinists for the Olympic and World Championship level, in a United States atmosphere where the event is typically only modestly celebrated, the NSAF’s Project founders Jim Spier, Joy Kamani and Jeff Gorski have deemed it essential that such a trip is included.  So as the 3rd year of the Project comes to an end, here we are again.

Greeting and hosting us here in Finland this week, per usual, is Coach Kimmo Kinnunen, the nation’s Junior National Coach whose own extraordinary career in the sport included the 1991 IAAF World Championship title and two Olympic finals.  Krammes joins Kinnunen as part of our U.S. staff, as a prep coach in Pennsylvania and true student of the sport – as well as a current elite athlete with a best over 259 feet and an aspiring 2016 Olympian.  Other Finnish athletes and coaches will help during the week, and Kinnunen’s son – Junior elite Jami Kinnunen – is also training with the Project athletes.

It’s been an extraordinary year for Project Javelin Gold.  It began in Chapel Hill in late October, as the athletes began their out-of-season training at Gorski’s “Field of Dreams” and the UNC facilities, working under their Finnish-trained mentor, Coach Krammes, and javelin legend and NSAF board member Bill Schmidt.  It continued two months later at the same venue, with another all-time great former thrower and current coach – Tom Pukstys – adding his mentorship and expertise, and the program enrolling two new athletes.

The athletes began their seasons in the spring with a variety of successes as they competed in their states (for those that contested the jav) and beyond (for some whose states do not).  Many convened at the Youth Olympic Trials in Florida, in early April.  Later, as the regular-season wound down, Project athletes also competed at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico.

Then the season reached its peak at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.  Following that was a first-time opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where the Project javelinists joined the NSAF’s Project Triple Jump athletes for a full camp for the first time – with coaches Krammes, Pukstys and Schmidt.  The Chicagoland Throws and USATF Juniors followed in the weeks ahead, with some athletes also contesting Junior Olympic meets. 

With the season nearly over, the Project’s athletes are prominent on the U.S. prep lists – with the girls especially.  NBNO/Chicagoland/USATF JO champ Tairyn Montgomery, Katelyn Gochenour and Sophia Rivera are US#1-2-6, with Gabby Kearney and Chrissy Glasmann – who have trained with the Project on their own (Kearney is also here in Finland) – also ranking #3 and #5.  Plus Emma Fitzgerald, US#15 during an injury-abbreviated season, is US#1 with the lighter Youth jav from her Youth Olympic Trials win (for a quick review of each athlete’s competitive seasons, see below)

“To take each individual athlete, to see what they were doing going all the way back from the beginning of year, and see their progression is really quite remarkable,” says Krammes.  “The feedback we give them and the adjustments that they’ve been able to make ... it’s evident by their marks and how well they've done this year.

“And it’s critical that at least one of us coaches have been at all these major events, so we can say, ‘this is what was going on here and you need to fix this,’” he continues.  “For me personally, going from Great Southwest to here now and seeing what I've been giving them and that they've been working on it … it’s rewarding as a coach and it's really showing that the NSAF program and system we've been putting together is working.”

Finally, that’s brought us to here.  During eight days at the Center in Kuortane, the athletes will work hard on throwing, drills and a variety of other things.  They will play hard, too, enjoying the recreational opportunities afforded here and strengthen the bonds they already have.  They will also get to prepare for and compete in a meet in nearby Vaasa, where they will compete against Finnish and other international athletes, as well as each other and themselves. 

In fact, Krammes says a major emphasis of the camp this week, which Kimmo has set up with the other coaches, is preparing for major (and international) competition. 

“I think it's critical for the kids to be able to understand and grasp that ... just getting exposure to international meets and so when they do make U.S. teams they have international experience.  I think that's huge ... I remember my first time overseas; it was so different than anything I was ever used to ... so getting the experience is really good.”

It’s been a long year, and some of the student athletes have shown the wear of it, considering various injuries and the plateaus that athletes sometimes inevitably go through.  Yet, as we’ve begun here in Kuortane, everyone seems refreshed and renewed.  That’s part of the magic in Finland.

“Emotionally, it’s great here,” says Krammes, “because in the U.S. you say throw javelin, and people they often say, ‘well, what is that’ ... but when the kids come here, they're allowed to love it … it’s pretty neat for them to come here, see the emotion and passion that goes behind it, and be allowed to love the event and be a student of it.”

So how specifically have all of these kids done this year, you ask?  Please see below:

Tairyn Montgomery, Redondo Union, CA rising junior

Just threw a US#1 168-1 in late July to defend her USATF JO age 15-16 title, making her the #7 thrower in prep history and even better among sophomores … previously hit her 1st career marks over 160 feet in winning the early-July Chicagoland Throws at 163-0, which at the time was US#3 … earlier in her first New Balance Nationals Outdoor (NBNO) meet in June, she captured the title in 157-9, taking her first major meet of the year with the heavier jav … in April, she placed 6th in Youth Olympic Trials as her California outdoor season began (no jav in CA).

Kaitlyn Gochenour, Marian Catholic, NE rising junior

Threw a 167-0 at the March Emporia State Open to take the early national lead (still US#2), which she held until late July … finished 2nd at NBNO with a 154-11 … also had a runner-up finish at USATF JOs with a 155-1 … earlier took 2nd at early June’s Great Southwest, hitting 142-4 in poor wind conditions … was 4th in Youth Olympic Trails … placed 7th at early July USATF Juniors before reviving her season with 3rd at Chicagoland with 156-0.

Sophia Rivera, Brentwood, MO rising junior

Was invited to officially join Project Javelin Gold after attending the two fall/winter 2013 clinics, showing the potential to improve from 117 ft. to the 140s … after a season of ups and downs, had her best performance of the year at USATF Juniors, throwing 157-0 for 4th … that beat her 147-0 PR from Kansas Relays in April, where she was 2nd … won USATF Youth Nationals age 15-16 title in June with a 148-0 … other major meet places include 1st at AAU Club Nationals, 7th at GSW, 8th at YOT, 9th at NBNO … also an all-around thrower who had some monster performances in taking the Great Southwest discus at 142-8 and finishing 3rd in the NBNO shot at 46-6.25 … improved shot PR to 47-2.5 at Juniors, taking 5th.

Emma Fitzgerald, Thayer Academy, MA rising junior

Her season got off to a dramatic start at the Youth Olympic Trials as she won with a 168-2 with the lighter Youth javelin, earning consideration for the Americas Area Team … She was eventually named to the Team and will compete at the 2nd Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China in late August … at the Trials, however, she was injured and subsequently missed the rest of April and May, basically missing her state season in Massachusetts … came back for NBNO to take 4th with 149-1 … followed up with HS jav PR 151-2 at Chicagoland Throws.

Kirsten Clark, Ruston, LA graduate

Had a monster start to season in March with a breakthrough 148-2 throw at the Neville (La.) Van Leigh Relays in mid-March, then right at the top of the national list … scored major invitational victories at the Sugar Bowl (146-1) and Mobile Challenge of Champions (141-4) meets … was runner-up in her 5A state meet, then 6th at Great Southwest and 7th at NBNO ... headed to Texas A&M this fall!

Todd Ogden, Glacier MT graduate

Cracked his 2013 PR when he hit a big 215-5 best at his 2A Western Divisional meet in Montana, which still holds up as U.S. #5 … went on to take his 2A state title with 210-10 … was 6th at NBNO and 5th at Chicagoland, but seems primed to chase his PR again here, where he set it last year ... headed to Montana State this fall!

Trevor Danielson, Newberg, OR graduate

Back injuries and other issues plagued much of his spring season, but was pleased to set a seasonal best 198-6 for 3rd at Chicagoland and seems primed here to get his first 200-footer since May, 2013 … has had four meets over 190 this year, including 196-0 at Willamette Falls Invite … took 9th at NBNO ... headed to Stanford this fall!

Grayson Hill, North East, PA rising junior

Was invited to officially join Project Javelin Gold after attending the winter 2013 clinic and is youngest male athlete in program … improved his PR 17 feet his year, hitting a school record 178-7 at his District 10 meet, then was 11th at AA state … placed 7th at Great Southwest at 170-7 … after a sub-par NBNO Emerging Elite performance, he had one of the best camps of anyone at Chula Vista, throwing over 180 feet.

Gabby Kearney, Roseburg, OR rising senior

Attending her first Project event in Kuortane after an outstanding junior year … set her US#3 166-0 PR (#2 at the time) at a dual meet in May before getting ready for state … no athlete nationally was more consistent through June, as she had four of her six meets over 157 … won 6A state title with 164-2 … came to NBNO in June and took 3rd, then followed with 3rd at USATF Juniors at 161-1 and 2nd at Chicagoland.