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Javelin Champ Owes Success to Injury
by Matt Wilson
Last year when Nathan Galloway was a freshman at Mars Hill College, he figured that he would just go to class and run track in the afternoons. He had come to Mars Hill on a track scholarship for long jump, triple jump, and sprinting events; he never even thought about throwing the javelin.
He certainly never dreamed that by the end of the season he would hold the Mars Hill College record in the javelin throw.
Galloway became the 2003 CIC champion in the javelin throw, with a throw of 166' 3.25", a new Mars Hill record.
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When Galloway first saw other teammates throw this weird looking spear, he thought to himself that it was a pretty hard event, but he never thought about trying it.
Then Galloway pulled his hamstring, which put him out of running commission for the Lions for a good part of the 2003 season. That injury made him look to other events in which he might compete. The javelin was one.
It wasn't till the end of his freshman track year that head coach Mike Owens saw Galloway playing around with the javelin after practice with another teammate who threw the javelin at track meets. In practice it took Galloway a few times to actually get the whole technique down for the javelin event, and his injury didn't help with the learning process. It wasn't until early March that he felt his hamstring was at or even close to 100%. Finally he decided to compete at the Liberty Invitational in Liberty, Virginia.
At this meet, Galloway had to overcome adversity with his injury and lack of experience in the javelin. Being the highly competitive person that he is, he managed a very respectable throw of 126 feet and 10 inches. That was his first javelin throw, and it put him at 14th place out of 18 competitors.
Later in the year Nathan went to Clemson, South Carolina to compete again at the NC: vs.: SC meet, which is a very big and competitive meet. As Galloway walked out on the track, he had those warm fuzzies like little kids get at Christmas time. Looking up at the big crowd that the meet brought, he saw a familiar face. It was his dad. He had thought his dad would be unable to make it because of work conflicts, but there he was, watching from the stands.
When it was time for the javelin event, Galloway walked to his designated area, but this time he was prepared. He knew what to expect from a college level track meet and plus his dad was watching. He knew he had to do well that day. With three throws he earned eighth place and a new personal best with a throw of 147 feet. "I was surprised that I threw it that far" says Galloway, who was pumped with his effort.
As Galloway woke up on the day of April 19th, 2003, he had a look to him that would resemble a look from John Elway during a late fourth quarter drive in a playoff game. It was a look of determination for the biggest meet of the year, the Carolinas Intercollegiate Championship meet. Galloway had this date circled on his track schedule. The year before, Mars Hill had won the conference title, and he wanted a championship ring to wear too.
As the team drove to the meet from the hotel, Galloway thought about his throws. In his mind he went through his technique, his footwork, his form, and most importantly his competitors. He knew he had to beat every thrower that day. When it was his turn to give it his all, he told himself to "just throw it hard," and he did just that, surprising all his competitors and himself.
Galloway became the 2003 CIC champion in the javelin throw, with a throw of 166' 3.25". That throw was also a new Mars Hill record. "Anything is possible on any given day," says Galloway when asked if he could break his record. Galloway is a prime example of how to overcome an injury and make something new in one's life become an honor.
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