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Greer rewrites record book for javelin
By Pat Graham, AP Sports Writer
Friday, June 22, 2007 | No comments posted.
INDIANAPOLIS - With the javelin competition still going on, Breaux Greer was already hustled away for a winner's press conference.
Even when the competition's not officially over, it's over.
Greer didn't need long to go about his business. On his second throw of the night, Greer broke his own American javelin record and won his eighth consecutive national title Thursday at the U.S. track and field championships.
Greer's toss of 299 feet, 6 inches topped his previous mark of 297-7, which he set with his first throw of the season, at the Adidas Classic in Carson, Calif., on May 20.
Afterward, the usually vibrant and outspoken Greer was subdued, yet still in a comical mood.
“You caught me on a tired day,” Greer said. “The javelin took it out of me. I took two throws. I'm used to taking one. Sorry.”
Greer, 30, is finding it difficult to impress himself these days. Eight straight titles really didn't mean that much to him.
“I think when I get 10 maybe I'll recognize I've done something,” he said.
Still, he's in rare company. Only race-walker Henry Laskau has won more consecutive U.S. track titles. He won 11 in a row from 1948 to 1958. Greer is tied for second with hammer thrower James Mitchell, who won eight straight from 1889 to 1896.
“This is valuable to me, but a world medal would be really nice, too,” Greer said. “I'm hoping it (a world medal) would be satisfying. You look for the magic answer - what's going to make you happy. I'm not so sure an Olympic gold medal will. That's something I have to find out. Otherwise, I'm going to walk away still wanting.”
Deena Kastor captured her fifth U.S. 10,000-meter title in the final event of the night. She won going away in a time of 31 minutes, 57 seconds. Somalia-born Abdi Abdirahman won the men's 10,000 at 28:13.51 and Oregon junior Galen Rupp finished second at 28:23.31 to earn a spot on the American team for the upcoming world championships.
“It never gets old winning national championships,” said Abdirahman, who's now won three.
Unless it's Greer.
“I was telling someone before (the competition), I might as well be watching a movie somewhere right now,” Greer said. “It doesn't feel like I should be out here. Nothing ever hits me at the moment.”
Greer has grand ambitions. Namely, he wants a movie made about his life. And he wants Steven Spielberg to direct it.
It's going to be similar to “Good Will Hunting,” only instead of a math prodigy, it would be about a javelin whiz.
“That (‘Good Will Hunting') is based on my life and was like someone followed me around with a camera,” Greer said. “It hasn't been a fairy-tale life (for me). Now, it's fun.”
Greer identifies with the Matt Damon character in the movie. Greer, too, worked as a janitor (at Northeast Louisiana) and came from a difficult upbringing.
“Everyone else has had things spoon fed (to them),” he said. “No one has ever given anything to me.”
One of the few by his side every step of the journey has been his loyal 17-year-old chocolate lab.
“Don't need a wife, I've got dogs,” said Greer, who recently got a puppy. “When I had nothing, no place to live, my (lab) was with me.”
Tyson Gay breezed into Friday's 100-meter semifinals with a preliminary-round 9.98-second run, the fastest of the qualifiers.
Walter Dix, who won of the 100 and 200 for Florida State at the NCAA championships two weeks ago, has his sights set on Ato Bolden's 100 meter collegiate record of 9.92 seconds. Dix won his heat in a wind-aided 10.08.
If Dix gets the record in the next round, he might shut it down for the season. He's already said he won't compete at the world championships.
“This will be my last meet,” he said. “When you have a long season like (college), it's not a hard decision to stop running.”
The top three finishers in each event, providing they've met the appropriate standards, make the U.S. team for the world championships in late August in Osaka, Japan. The reigning world champions automatically make the U.S. squad.
Me'Lisa Barber was the fastest qualifier in the women's 100 with a wind-aided 10.95 while Shani Marks defended her triple jump title with a leap of 46-2 1/2.
“I had a ton of nerves,” Marks said. “So channeling those was half the battle.”
Greer sat down for his winner's press conference and glanced at the other throwers still competing.
“The young bucks are out there fighting it out,” Greer said. “I can't. I've got to hit one or two throws and go home. I'm old.”
Even when the competition's not officially over, it's over.
Greer didn't need long to go about his business. On his second throw of the night, Greer broke his own American javelin record and won his eighth consecutive national title Thursday at the U.S. track and field championships.
Greer's toss of 299 feet, 6 inches topped his previous mark of 297-7, which he set with his first throw of the season, at the Adidas Classic in Carson, Calif., on May 20.
Afterward, the usually vibrant and outspoken Greer was subdued, yet still in a comical mood.
“You caught me on a tired day,” Greer said. “The javelin took it out of me. I took two throws. I'm used to taking one. Sorry.”
Greer, 30, is finding it difficult to impress himself these days. Eight straight titles really didn't mean that much to him.
“I think when I get 10 maybe I'll recognize I've done something,” he said.
Still, he's in rare company. Only race-walker Henry Laskau has won more consecutive U.S. track titles. He won 11 in a row from 1948 to 1958. Greer is tied for second with hammer thrower James Mitchell, who won eight straight from 1889 to 1896.
“This is valuable to me, but a world medal would be really nice, too,” Greer said. “I'm hoping it (a world medal) would be satisfying. You look for the magic answer - what's going to make you happy. I'm not so sure an Olympic gold medal will. That's something I have to find out. Otherwise, I'm going to walk away still wanting.”
Deena Kastor captured her fifth U.S. 10,000-meter title in the final event of the night. She won going away in a time of 31 minutes, 57 seconds. Somalia-born Abdi Abdirahman won the men's 10,000 at 28:13.51 and Oregon junior Galen Rupp finished second at 28:23.31 to earn a spot on the American team for the upcoming world championships.
“It never gets old winning national championships,” said Abdirahman, who's now won three.
Unless it's Greer.
“I was telling someone before (the competition), I might as well be watching a movie somewhere right now,” Greer said. “It doesn't feel like I should be out here. Nothing ever hits me at the moment.”
Greer has grand ambitions. Namely, he wants a movie made about his life. And he wants Steven Spielberg to direct it.
It's going to be similar to “Good Will Hunting,” only instead of a math prodigy, it would be about a javelin whiz.
“That (‘Good Will Hunting') is based on my life and was like someone followed me around with a camera,” Greer said. “It hasn't been a fairy-tale life (for me). Now, it's fun.”
Greer identifies with the Matt Damon character in the movie. Greer, too, worked as a janitor (at Northeast Louisiana) and came from a difficult upbringing.
“Everyone else has had things spoon fed (to them),” he said. “No one has ever given anything to me.”
One of the few by his side every step of the journey has been his loyal 17-year-old chocolate lab.
“Don't need a wife, I've got dogs,” said Greer, who recently got a puppy. “When I had nothing, no place to live, my (lab) was with me.”
Tyson Gay breezed into Friday's 100-meter semifinals with a preliminary-round 9.98-second run, the fastest of the qualifiers.
Walter Dix, who won of the 100 and 200 for Florida State at the NCAA championships two weeks ago, has his sights set on Ato Bolden's 100 meter collegiate record of 9.92 seconds. Dix won his heat in a wind-aided 10.08.
If Dix gets the record in the next round, he might shut it down for the season. He's already said he won't compete at the world championships.
“This will be my last meet,” he said. “When you have a long season like (college), it's not a hard decision to stop running.”
The top three finishers in each event, providing they've met the appropriate standards, make the U.S. team for the world championships in late August in Osaka, Japan. The reigning world champions automatically make the U.S. squad.
Me'Lisa Barber was the fastest qualifier in the women's 100 with a wind-aided 10.95 while Shani Marks defended her triple jump title with a leap of 46-2 1/2.
“I had a ton of nerves,” Marks said. “So channeling those was half the battle.”
Greer sat down for his winner's press conference and glanced at the other throwers still competing.
“The young bucks are out there fighting it out,” Greer said. “I can't. I've got to hit one or two throws and go home. I'm old.”
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