RallyNorth.net

Zavrl stars at New Englands

Left without his flashy pink javelin because of a weigh-in issue prior to the meet, Andover's Mark Zavrl was forced to borrow a javelin from a competitor from Lowell yesterday.

It could have thrown him off, but the Red Raider javelin worked just fine for the Golden Warrio.

Zavrl, who had never thrown a javelin prior to this season, placed fourth in the event at New Englands with a personal best throw of 181-8, the fourth best throw for an area athlete and a school record since the javelin was reweighted in 2003.

"I felt really pumped up in warmups," said Zavrl. "The new javelin felt good off my hand and I was just bombing it.

"My first throw I PRed with a 176, then my second I thought I was in the high 170's, then heard 181 and it was just an incredible feeling."

Zarvl, a star kicker/linebacker in football, had previously thrown a PR of 172-3 earlier this season, good for second in the area.

"We had no idea he had this kind of potential," said Andover coach Peter Comeau. "He ended up in javelin by mistake, but that goes to show you what a good athlete can do with some work. We feel like the sky is the limit."