In the News: Former Newberg HS, Oregon Duck javelin thrower Cyrus Hostetler qualifies for Olympics

EUGENE — The second Cyrus Hostetler let it fly, he knew it was enough.

​The Oregon native's fifth throw in the javelin at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials sliced through the sky before piercing the infield 273 feet and 1 inch from where it took off. The mark earned him a gold medal and a spot on Team USA in the Olympics.

Hostetler won't be the only Oregon native or Oregon Duck in the U.S. javelin contingent to Rio. Sam Crouser, a Gresham native and cousin of Olympic teammate shot putter Ryan Crouser, finished outside the top three on Monday evening, but qualified for the Games because the second- and third-place finishers failed to meet the Olympic standard mark of just over 272 feet.

Crouser didn't make the mark at the trials either, but had met it May 21 in Tucson, Arizona. The same was the case for Sean Furey, the third American man heading to Rio. He threw over the standard in June of last year. Of the 12 javelin finalists at the trials Monday, Furey finished 11th, but again, his previous mark was good enough to get him into the Olympic field.

Hostetler, Crouser and Furey were the only throwers who came into the trials having already reached the Olympic standard. 

It's a twist of rules even the throwers couldn't untangle. The top three Americans in the trials running events almost automatically qualify for the Olympics because of the United States' track prowess. The U.S. is less strong internationally in a handful of throwing events — men's javelin being an example. Mississippi State's Curtis Thompson threw a lifetime best on Monday that earned him a silver medal at the trials, but his mark was 12 centimeters short of the Olympic standard.

"I thought it was far enough," Thompson said.

Nevertheless, it'll be locals Hostetler and Crouser joined by Furey, a Massachusetts native, in the Olympics.

"I'm not going to be mopey if I get in because of the rules," Furey said. "I understood the rules. I also understand what it means to come to this meet and throw your lifetime best. That's what Curtis Thompson did and I have all the respect in the world for him."

Hostetler, 31, nearly set his own lifetime best with his fifth throw. The Hayward Field faithful erupted as the javelin stuck. Hostetler turned to the East stands and greeted them with a downward flex. He then jogged to the crowd, looking for one person in particular.

"The 5k was running, they got really mad at me cause I ran right in front of everyone, but I wanted to give my coach a hug," he said.

Christina Scherwin was a volunteer assistant during his four years at Oregon and made the Danish national team twice in the javelin.

"We've had a long distance coaching relationship these last couple years, but she is definitely the reason why I've thrown so far and done well this year and years past," Hostetler said. "I just wanted to give her a big hug. Everything goes to her."

Joe Mussatto, The Oregonian / OregonLive
jmussatto@oregonian.com
@joe_mussatto