Alvin Sung Wins State Javelin; Mirka Uhlirova Improves CSM 10K Record
Contact: Fred Baer baerf@smccd.edu
SAN DIEGO -- Alvin Sung had the right strategy to become College of San Mateo's second state champion in the men's javelin throw. "I wanted to start off strong," he said.
His initial throw of 186 feet, eight inches was enough to win easily. But the CSM sophomore out of Mills High didn't stop there. He beat the field on every throw, with a best of 189-4 in the third round. His first five throws were well over 180 feet and he won by more than 13 feet. "My plan was to just keep consistent and move up," Sung said.
Second place was 175-9 by Chris Ross of San Diego Mesa -- the California Community College Athletic Association host college for the 2-day meet.
Sung is finishing his third year at CSM. He reached 173 feet in 2014 as a freshman, throwing the javelin for the first time after learning the event with Coach Mike Lewis; then redshirted in 2015.
Sung started his track and field career as a sprinter at Mills. He began throwing the weights (shot put and discus) in his senior year, coached by Pat Lewis (the brother of Mike Lewis).
CSM's only previous javelin champion was Ben Fogel in 2000. Bulldogs weight coach Mike Lewis has produced 17 state champions in seven men's and women's throwing events.
--Mirka Uhlirova smashed her own CSM school record in the 10,000 meters by more than 36 seconds, placing fifth in 38 minutes, 15.15 seconds in Friday's opening day competition. Her previous best was 38:51.91 at the Northern California finals two weeks ago. Uhlirova came back on Saturday to run the 5,000 meters and finished ninth in 19:01.37.
In other Saturday events, William Rogers placed eighth in the men's shot put at 50-5 1/2 and Jerry Johnson was 11th at 48-3 1/4. Johnson was also 11th in the discus throw at 143-1.
--Nick Pallas finished the first five events (first day) of the decathlon in eighth place with 3,064 points. The Bulldogs freshman completed the 2-day, 10-event grind with 5,539 points and placed tenth. These were his marks in each event: 100 meters, 11.74; long jump, 5.85 meters; shot put, 38-4 1/4; high jump, 5-7 1/4; 400 meters, 53.35; 110 high hurdles, 16.79; discus throw, 106-4; pole vault, 11-7 3/4; javelin throw, 123-8; 1,500 meters, 5:27.37.
--Kristen Jacobs was a late qualifier for the women's 1,500 meters when another entrant dropped out. The CSM sophomore finished 12th in 5:19.61