Lillak’s Javelin--Point of Attention : Finn’s Errant Throws, Meet Record Highlight Invitational

All eyes were on Tiina Lillak when she threw the javelin at the New Balance Track and Field Invitational at UC Irvine. Sure, the 6-foot 1-inch Finnish athlete won the silver medal in the 1984 Olympics, but many of those watching Saturday were looking out for their lives.

One of Lillak’s throws was caught by the wind and landed on the track about 30 yards left of the javelin field. Another went off in a similar direction, landing on the long-jump runway. No one was injured, but many were wary.

But these errant throws came after Lillak threw 208-feet 5-inches, more than 30 feet farther than her closest competitor. Her toss was a meet and stadium record, and she easily won the event, though her mark was well short of her lifetime best--243-6 1/2.

U.S. Olympic silver medalist Alice Brown, one of 15 Olympic athletes in Saturday’s meet, was a late entry. She had called UCI women’s coach and meet director Danny Williams Saturday morning, asking to compete in the 100 meters.

Running for the World Class Track Club, she got a quick start and buried the rest of the field with a wind-aided 11.02.

Despite the fast time, Brown said she still ran too tight in the middle of the race. She said that leaning farther forward in the blocks accounted for her quick start.

“I was leaning so far forward I thought I was going to stumble, “ Brown said.

Ruth Wysocki, another U.S. Olympian, beat a depleted 800-meter field in 2:07.20.

Wysocki said she planned on going faster, but that her two main competitors didn’t run. Kim Gallagher, 1984 Olympic silver medalist in the 800, decided to run the 400 meters instead, and Irish Olympian Monica Joyce skipped the meet.

“I really wanted to run a lot faster,” Wysocki said. “But I expected more of a race. I guess I just let up.”

Wysocki had planned for a tough race and wasn’t prepared mentally to set her own pace.

“It’s a little late (when you’re running) to change your frame of mind,” she said. “I was running to win.”

Gallagher, who says that no American woman can beat her in the 800 when she is healthy, won the 400 meters in 54.30. She also ran the anchor leg for the Los Angeles Track Club’s winning 1600-meter relay team.

Gallagher said the matchup with Wysocki was tempting, but that she decided three days before the meet to run the 400 because she needed the extra training at that distance.

“I wasn’t going to change it (my event) because Ruth was in it,” Gallagher said. “I have to mentally prepare myself at least a day ahead of time.”