Greer sets U.S. record in javelin

When Breaux Greer opens his mouth, anything is likely to come out.

Greer is profane, politically incorrect, given to risque double-entendres and inclined to embellish his stories.

“I have to tone it down,” Greer says repeatedly, but you can tell from the impish grin below his streaked, spiked hairdo that he doesn’t mean it.

So the only thing about Greer anyone can take without a grain of salt -- OK, a salt mine -- is how far he can throw a javelin.

Thursday night it was far enough that Greer was doing the winner’s news conference while two rounds of throws remained at the U.S. Track and Field Championships.

“I just quit easily,” Greer said.

Greer packed it in after breaking the U.S. record for a fourth time on his second throw of an allotted six. That throw, 299 feet 6 inches, was almost two feet longer than the mark he had set a month ago and 53 feet 3 inches better than runner-up Mike Hazle.

In winning his eighth straight national title, Greer earned another shot at his first medal in a global competition by making the U.S. team for August’s world championships in Japan.

“If I can stay healthy through worlds, it’s going to be easy,” Greer said.

At 30, health has become a greater issue than ever for Greer, whose medical records are about as long as his throws. He estimates having had 11 surgeries since 1997, equally divided among his right elbow, right shoulder and left knee.

The most recent surgery, eight months ago, involved replacing the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.

“It would be nice to have one year without surgery,” Greer said. “But go find me a javelin thrower who hasn’t had surgery and odds are they [stink]. They’re not throwing hard enough to injure themselves.”

Greer competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he was a medal favorite, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He had the longest throw in the qualifying round, but the knee buckled in the final, where he finished last.

No American has won an Olympic medal in the javelin since Bill Schmidt took home a bronze in 1972.

“You can’t have anything go as wrong as the Olympics did,” said Greer, who finished the season ranked second in the world. “I have unfinished business.”

So does Torri Edwards, 2003 world champion in the 100 meters. After missing the 2004 Olympics while under a two-year ban (later reduced to one year) for use of a banned stimulant, she has reestablished herself as one of the leading sprinters in the world.

Edwards cruised to victory in her first-round heat of the 100 with a time of 11.01 seconds. The semifinals and final are today.

“It feels like I’m back to where I was before I left,” Edwards said.

Aided by a substantial tailwind, Me’Lisa Barber ran the fastest time (10.95) in the heats. She is coaching herself after leaving Trevor Graham, who has coached 12 athletes banned for doping, most notably Olympic champion Justin Gatlin.

“I hope people don’t judge guilt by association,” she said. “I hope I don’t have a shadow on me.”

Philip Hersh covers Olympic sports for The Times and the Chicago Tribune.