Javelin points star in new direction

Five things to watch in girls track and field

Johna McEllrath, Prairie: The senior, who placed fourth at the 3A state meet in the shot put and seventh in the javelin last season, is once again among the state leaders. She leads the state at 3A in the discus (130-8) and is second in the shot put (40-10).

Jennifer DeBellis, Columbia River: The defending 3A state champion in the pole vault is leading the state in the event again this season, clearing 11-6 and sharing the state-best mark for 3A with Kelso’s McKenna Emmert.

East County distance freshmen duo: Union’s Alexis Fuller and Camas’ Alexa Ephraimson were cross country standouts in the fall, and both rank among the state’s best in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in track.

Kathran Dean, Mountain View: Dean, who finished second at the 3A state meet in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump last season, leads the state at 3A in the long jump (18-1) and ranks third in the triple jump (36-10 3/4 ).

Other state leaders: (according to athletic.net) Kaitlyn McKinney, Union (4A 400); Madison Lanford, Skyview (4A 300 hurdles); Raigan Page, Ridgefield (1A 400); Harper Christian, King’s Way Christian (1B triple jump); Callie Crawford, King’s Way Christian (1B discus); Lucy Defilippis, Seton Catholic (1B 3,200).

Angelique Williams always believed she could earn a college scholarship. She just had no idea it would not be with her first love.

Basketball ruled her life, pretty much from the beginning of her memory. It was her driving force, until she was asked to give something else a try.

Others saw potential in that 5-foot, 5-inch frame.

Now, that dream of competing in college is about to come true. But in track and field, instead of a basketball.

Williams, a senior at Union, is still a talented point guard. She was voted co-player of the year in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League then was named the star of stars at a local all-star basketball showcase last month.

It’s just that she is even better at throwing the javelin.

Two years after picking up the javelin for the first time, Williams is all set to go to Eastern New Mexico University, an NCAA Division II program.

She grabbed the attention of coaches there after her fourth-place finish at the Class 4A state championships last May, when she threw a then personal best 131 feet, 7 inches.

Or roughly 100 feet farther than her first attempt in practice when she was a sophomore. She remembers her first mark in a meet — 65 feet exactly.

“I never even thought I’d make it to district,” Williams said. “I just worked hard in practice. (Coach Mike) Burdick told me to keep trying. I just got the hang of it.”

Within weeks, she broke 100 feet.

Her mother was at that meet. Sharmalette Thompson asked her daughter, “Is that good?”

Yes, especially for a newcomer.

It was about that time Williams’ focus changed. From a basketball player who competes in track and field to a track and field athlete who plays basketball. Both are fun. Yet the javelin kind of took over in her mind.

“I always thought I’d go to high school, do good there, and go off to college on a basketball scholarship,” Williams said. “That never happened. I picked up something different.”

Williams played softball for the Union program as a freshman. She found some success, but she kept hearing how much fun it was to be on the track team, with so many other athletes working on their skills and pulling for each other at the same time.

A social person who boasts about being able to get along with “anyone and everyone,” Williams figured she would give it a shot as a sophomore.

Then senior Felicia Odle, a teammate of Williams on the basketball team, convinced Williams to try her event — the javelin. By the end of the year, Williams was the top javelin thrower on the team.

“She wasn’t too happy with me,” Williams said of Odle. “We’re still friends, though.”

Not that Odle is still upset. She now throws for the University of Oregon.

Burdick, a longtime coach, has had numerous success stories of athletes coming from another sport to find their calling in track and field. “Moochie,” a family nickname, is the latest.

“She had a cannon for an arm,” Burdick said. “She was just a natural. Once she learned the technique, it went farther and farther.”

Williams added: “He told me throwing a javelin is just like throwing a softball.”

By the end of her second season, Williams was standing on the podium at state.

“It was a nice day. I do better in nicer weather,” she explained.

Which is one of the reasons her journey will take her to Eastern New Mexico — a warmer climate.

After her success last season, she received several introductory letters from college programs, asking her if she was interested in more information.

“My mom said, ‘What could it hurt?’ ”

A few weeks later, Eastern New Mexico contacted Williams again. The school has programs that interest Williams — sports management and physical therapy — and it’s warm. Without even visiting, Williams said yes.

“I took a campus tour online,” she said with a smile. “From what I see, I like it.”

Before college, she has some goals to achieve in Washington.

“State champion and 140 feet,” Williams said. “My coaches think I can do it.”

That’s good enough for Williams. After all, they believed in her potential with the javelin before she did.

And she certainly has no regrets about giving up basketball for track and field in college. She said she missed basketball the day after her last game, but now the focus is on the javelin.

“Just (get a personal record) and do your best,” Williams said.