American JavFest

2017 American JavFest launches July 7-9!

The NSAF is exciting to be hosting its third annual American JavFest on Friday-Sunday, July 7-9, 2017 at East Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania.

After the three-day format was shortened somewhat in 2016, the JavFest is returning to a full weekend this summer, allowing more time for training, fun and games, the informative and entertaining roundtable with elite coaches and athletes, as well as the prep and elite competitions. The timing will allow elites who are searching for IAAF World Championship qualifiers to chase those marks following the USATF Championships.

The JavFest is intended to be a stateside version of the great Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival in Finland. It is truly intended to share the joys of the javelin with throwers of all ages. The unique event allows athletes, coaches and fans of the sport to be fully engaged educationally, socially and competitively.

Last year, former NBNO All-American Curtis Thompson won the Men’s Elite division with 260-11, while two-time Olympic Trials finalist Kim Hamilton won the Women’s Elite competition with 186-6. The Prep Boys’ and Girls’ winners were Eric Garner (208-2) and Cambrie Campbell (135-1). Prep runner-ups Gavin Darcy (206-4) and Lillian Hill (130-10) both sophomores at the time – were invited to join the NSAF’s Project Javelin Gold after the weekend.

In 2015, NBNO champ Michael Biddle outdueled World Youth Team USA member Liam Christensen, 211-11 to 209-5 for the Prep Boys’ title, while Sophia Rivera edged Katelyn Gochenour, 159-9 to 159-6, in a battle of World Youth finalists (and NBNO 1-2 finishers). Christensen, Rivera and Gochenour all were (or are currently) Project Javelin members. The Elite titles went to Riley Dolezal (265-1) and Arianna Ince (170-11).

Coaching Staff

Jeff Gorski: Founder, with the NSAF, of Project Javelin Gold, as well as former USATF Javelin High Performance chair, founder of Klub Keihas and his own "Field of Dreams." Also coach of many elite throwers and U.S. record holders (including Pukstys and Krammes), both in high school and elite levels, and a 2-time USATF finalist, 1981 U.S. National Team member and 3-time All-ACC performer at UNC.
Tom Pukstys: Two-time Olympic finalist (1992, 1996), 6-time U.S. champion, former American record-holder and represented Team USA in six consecutive IAAF World Championships.
Duncan Atwood: Two-time Olympian (1980, finalist in 1984), 2-time Pan American Games champion (1979, 1987), 1987 World Championships finalist and former American record-holder.
Barry Krammes: Recently retired elite thrower, 2x U.S. Olympic Trials finalist (6th in 2008), and high school coach at East Stroudsburg South.
Kim Hamilton: NCAA All American and 2-time US Olympic Trials finalist.
Dr. Margaret Ottley: Full professor of sport & exercise psychology and exercises science at West Chester University (WCU), PA. Dr. Ottley is a Certiﬁed Sport Psychology Consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She is the founder of SANKO-FA HP (HyPower Performance) LLC, Sport & Performance Psychology. Her major accomplishments as a sport psychology consultant were serving two countries at three Olympic Games - London 2012 and Athens 2004 with Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee and the Beijing Olympics 2008 with USA Track & Field (USATF). She was the keynote speaker at USATF's Elite Athletes Retreat 2015 which focused on athletes' preparation for Rio Olympics 2016.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, July 6

7:00pm Introductory meeting/registration at Hampton Inn, Stroudsburg, PA

Friday, July 7

10:00am-1:00pm Registration/check-in at East Stroudsburg South HS
1:00pm-2:30pm General training session

2:30pm-3:30pm High School girls competition (non-elite; includes U-15 girls)
4:00pm-5:30pm High School boys competition (non-elite; includes U-15 boys)

7:30pm-9:30pm Roundtable Panel/Open discussion at at Hampton Inn
with Elite Coaches and Athletes!

Saturday, July 8

8:30am-2:00pm Registration/check-in at East Stroudsburg South HS
9:00am-10:00am General warm up and training
10:00am-noon Javelin school by group age/experience
2:00pm-4:00pm Javelin school by group age/experience
4:30pm-5:30pm Sports Psychology session with Dr. Margaret Ottley
at East Stroudsburg South HS