Breaux Greer (USA) (© Getty Images)
USA's number one Javelin thrower Breaux Greer, who was fourth in the 2001 World Championships with a personal best of 87.00m, launched his 2004 season last weekend (Saturday, 10 April) in impressive style with a throw of 86.83m, which is the current world season lead.
In a low key meet at his training base in Athens, Georgia on Saturday, Greer found some early encouragement when he registered an impressive series in the opening four rounds, 3 of which were over 82m and one over 84m.
However, it was in the 5th round that Greer really exploded, throwing the spear to 86.83m, as the modest sized crowd of approximately 2000 looked on in amazement and fear as the javelin appeared to be heading towards the women’s high-jump competition which was in progress at the other end of the track .
Shoulder surgery has been a hinderence
Greer, who finished 4th place at the World Championships in Edmonton 2001, had a mediocre year in 2003 after coming off of shoulder surgery. Now with the Olympic Games looming, he appears to be well on his way to establishing himself among the favourites to medal. Just a mere 29cm off the American record (87.12, Tom Pukstys in 1997) and 17cm off his personal best in his opening competition, this season looks like it could be shaping up to be one of his best.
“Training has been going great and I’m feeling as strong as ever, this is the me I was struggling to find last year, and I can think of no better time than an Olympic Year to find my best form,” confirmed Greer.
Greer plans to continue training in Georgia and throwing at a few low-key meets before he hits the IAAF Grand Prix circuit in the middle of May. The 27 year-old is due to compete in the Super Grand Prix Meet in Doha, Qatar on 14 May.
Highs and lows of a promising career
In 1996, he fell 2cm short of making the American Team for the Atlanta Olympics, although he threw a personal best by nearly 5 meters at the trials, he was just shy of the Olympic standard. He was 12cm short of the American Record in 2001 with his 4th place finishing mark of 87.00m in Edmonton.
In 2002 he underwent shoulder surgery which affected his 2003 throwing season, however, Greer is fully recovered and fired up for this year.
Training has been going extremely well according to Greer. It has been quite a turn around from the previous year; and having found his form, Greer no doubt is feeling quite confident that he’ll be able to reach deep within himself and find what he needs to establish his mark in this Olympic year.
As Greer stated with his Louisiana twang “The timing couldn’t be better! I‘m primed for the competition, it‘s hard not to think about the Olympics, but right now I‘m focusing on my form and the next competition.”
A musical athletics combo
Off the track, Greer keeps his mind occupied with a gritty little rock band appropriately named “Former Track Star”. He is the lead singer in the band which is comprised entirely of track and field athletes, including the Irish 110m Hurdles National Record Holder, Peter Coghlan. The band performs their own original music, and the occasional cover.
They have had some success performing at medium-sized venues in the US and the Athens area in particular, known for former start-up bands like REM and The B-52’s.
Their first nation-wide tour is in the planning stages and is set to commence in September just after the World Athletics Final.
There may be no Olympic gold medal awarded for their band at present, however, beware on the javelin pitch when Greer steps up to throw, as we might see a bit of magic out there this year.
