SAN MATEO — Former Clear Lake High School athlete Mike Curry uncorked a throw of 12.6 meters to win the shotput title on June 22 at the Pacific Association Masters Championship in San Mateo.
It was the seventh straight time Curry, 41, has won the shotput at the competition, but it was the first time he won the event using the rotational technique instead of the glide technique, according to Curry.
A sore knee prompted Curry to give the rotational technique a try and it worked out well.
Curry added another first-place finish in his age division in the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 13.40 meters.
Although Curry”s been working with coach Ken Norlen to flatten his rotation before releasing the 35-pound weight, some advice from Ed Burke, a three-time Olympian who carried the flag for the U.S. team at the 1984 Olympics, aided Curry”s effort at the competition.
“Ken wasn”t there and he (Burke) told me to flatten it out,” Curry said. “When it (the weight) popped out of my hand, I didn”t think I had thrown it all that well,” Curry said.
But the 13.40 meters not only won the event, but it beat the All-American standard of 13 meters, according to Curry.
When Curry spoke with Burke after the competition was over, he told him, ?You were right, right on the button.””
Curry added second-place finishes in the hammer and discus and a third in the javelin. He cleared 39.27 meters in the hammer throw.
“It was not that good of a throw, but I”m getting there,” Curry said after finishing second to Mike Ostrom, the favorite in the event who won with a throw of 50 meters.
Curry has a busy schedule ahead. He”ll compete at the Western States Invitational in Sacramento on July 18 and at the Hayward Field Classic on Aug. 2-3 in Eugene at the same venue that hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials. Curry will also compete in the USTAF National Championships on Aug. 7-10 in Spokane.
