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Olympic Update -- Brian Chaput
Created: 6/10/2004 8:27:14 AM
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Kellie Murphy recently caught up with five Ivy Leaguers who will be looking for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the Track & Field Trials, to be held at the Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento from July 9-18. The League could have more than 20 participants at the Trials, while at least 10 Leaguers hope to represent foreign countries in track and field at the Athens Olympics.
If at least six of these athletes advance to the Olympics, it will be the highest yield of Ivy League tracksters at the Summer Games since 1972. The last time seven Leaguers competed at the Olympics in track and field was 1952. Aside from the boycotted Moscow Games of 1980, track and field athletes with an Ivy League history have competed at every summer Olympic games beginning with the first in 1896.
Brian Chaput has done it all over the last two years. He is a two-time Academic All-Ivy selection and a team captain for the Penn Quakers. Oh yeah... he also hasn't lost to a collegian in two years. A javelin thrower, Chaput has simply dominated the event. He has twice won Heps, twice won the NCAA East Regional and been a national champion. He will try the rare repeat beginning Thursday afternoon in Austin, Texas. The East Haven, Conn., native is also among the top candidates to earn a berth on the U.S. Olympic Team. After the NCAAs, he will be concerned with his performance at the Trials as well as posting an Olympic qualifying mark (81.80 meters).
KM -- How do you feel about the javelin throw not being one of the more glamorous track and field events?
It’s interesting because the javelin is not a money event. Some meets, especially this American circuit right now, don’t even have it! On a world level -- minus Breaux Greer, who is the number two thrower in the world right now – javelin isn’t there yet as a major attraction, but we’re working on it.
KM -- Did you 'try on' many different events before committing to the javelin?
I was a baseball player until my junior year in high school…a pitcher. I was also on the cross-country team for four years. When I first started track, I was planning on just doing distance running. But my buddy was a decathlete at the University of Connecticut and prior to the season starting we practiced with some of the implements and I happened to be really good at the javelin. It kind of stuck…it was random.
KM -- You had “Tommy John” elbow reconstruction surgery a couple of years ago. What’s that like?
On average, it takes nine-to-12 months to come back from that injury. For me, it took a solid 12-to-15 months. It was extremely frustrating. I had a graft, part of the plantarus longus near the Achilles tendon, taken from my ankle and needed to wear a support boot for a month. It was terrible! You should have seen me with the boot on my foot and the support on my elbow…brutal!
KM -- Does being Academic All-Ivy add something to your competitiveness on the field?
I approach both track and school with the same drive. It’s a good carryover because the more focus I put into schoolwork, the more focus I can give on the track. Focusing on one makes it easier to focus on the other. You know you need to get it all done and at certain times, so you do.
KM -- What would you like to go into once you stop throwing?
My degrees are in psychology and communications. Psychology and communication research interests me as well as advertising.
KM -- How exciting is the possibility of competing in Athens?
It would be an incredible opportunity. It’s a dream. I’m just hoping to pull it all together. It’s there. I’m excited, especially now that it’s coming to crunch time. The trials for the javelin are on July 15th and 17th.
KM -- Do you have a set “pre-meet” meal?
I like Starbucks coffee. I think it’s for the rush it gives me before I compete.
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Related Schools: Pennsylvania
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Related Sports: Outdoor Track
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*This Article has been archived.*
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