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GENEVA, OHIO – Fort LeBoeuf’s Mason Friedman is a national champion.
Competing for Team SPEARWERX in the 15-16 division of the boys’ javelin at the USA Track and Field Youth Outdoor Championships on Thursday, Friedman uncorked a winning throw of 150’9”, edging Saheb Triguni, who threw 148’5”. The next closest throw was 126’3”.
“It means a lot,” Friedman, who is going into his sophomore year at Fort LeBoeuf, said. “I’m still pretty young. It makes me really happy and appreciate of all the people who have supported me, winning something like this. It just means a lot and shows my hard work and how much time have put in have paid off.”
Friedman’s previous PR was 147, and he knew he would need to do better than that to win after Triguni uncorked his 148’5” on his first attempt.
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“I actually had four throws that would have been personal bests,” Friedman said. “When I saw the seed marks, I was ahead by about 15 feet, but once he had that first throw, I knew I needed to PR to win.”
For Friedman, it’s pretty easy to lock in, even at big events like this one, which was held at the S.P.I.R.E. Institute.
“I’m in the zone every time I’m competing,” he said. “There are no outside things that are getting to me. As soon as I get on the runway, I just have the mindset that I’m going to throw as far as I can and not worry about anything else.”
And, while he recognizes the magnitude of what he just achieved (this was his first All-American designation as a high school athlete), he knows he has to keep working.
“I’m still pretty young, and I can’t be complacent with just winning this,” Friedman said. “There is a Region 2 meet that I’m going to miss, but hopefully the USTAF (USA Track and Field) can push me through to the Junior Olympics at the end of July (which are in Oregon). Even if they don’t, I’m still going to practice every day, whether that’s lifting or getting out and throwing.”
