Everybody loves a good comeback story.
Perhaps that’s the reason a couple hundred fans ventured OUTSIDE of Memorial Stadium to watch Kansas University javelin thrower Vince Labosky compete in the Kansas Relays Saturday.
“It’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen at a meet,” said Labosky, who tossed a season-best 242-1, defeating runnerup Mike Collins of the Houston NIKE club by 14 feet.
“It feels good to know people care,” noted the Vincetown, N.J. junior, who missed all last season because of a shoulder injury.
Before this current outdoor season, his last meet was the Olympic Trials in the summer of ’88.
“I walked by one guy who was ranting and raving about me,” Labosky said. “He’s come by to watch me practice. One time I helped his son with his throws. It was good to see him here.
“This is a sport where you won’t make a lot of dollars unless you’re a record holder,” continued Labosky, who placed third at the Relays as a freshman and second as a sophomore. “I compete in it because I like it a lot.”
That’s obvious, considering his shoulder which often feels like it has been “stuck with an ice pick” becomes sore after meets.
“I’ll go ice and massage it out,” said Labosky. “I’ll ice it later tonight and tomorrow and the day after and throw again Tuesday.”
His next meet will be the Penn Relays, where two years ago he tossed a personal best 247-11 .
“This was my best throw this year,” said Labosky, “but I’m a little disappointed because if I’d kept the point down, it would have gone further. Minor technicalities and split second timing got in the way.”
If Labosky repeats his Relays performance next month, he’ll likely snare his second Big Eight individual javelin crown.
“Easily unless somebody comes out of nowhere which can happen in the Big Eight,” said Labosky, KU’s only winner on Saturday.
The Jayhawks did, however, bag a bundle of seconds.
Johnny Brackins, who placed third in the long jump Friday, leaped 51-6 in the triple jump, second to Butler County Community College’s Reggie Jones, who went 52-9 .
“It just didn’t happen today,” said Brackins. “I can’t be too upset. I did a little above average at the Relays considering I placed in both the long and triple jump. I wish I could have won the triple. Maybe I can at the Drake Relays.”
The 3,200 relay team of Jason Teal, Steve Heffernan, Brian Gray and Jon Joslin was second in 7:31.49. K-State crossed first in 7:28.79.
“We wanted to win at our home meet,” said Teal, “but we all ran near our potential so we can’t complain too much about second place.”
“I hate to lose,” said Joslin. “We won it last year and hoped to win again. We’re 2-2 against K-State in that event this year. We keep trading off. K-State has an entirely new team. That team was made up of three freshmen and a juco transfer. I don’t even know if we ran against them at the Relays last year.”
KU’s Sean Sheridan nearly claimed a win in the 1,500. He finished in 3:49.93 to unattached Trey Harrison’s 3:49.84.
Also, former KU pole vaulter Scott Huffman, now competing for the New York Athletic Club, was third in 17-6 . Arkansas State’s Kelly Riley notched first in 18-4 . Like Huffman, Jeff Hartwig of Arkansas State also cleared 17-6 , beating Huffman on misses.
