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sports
Rodriguez
hits javelin mark for Beach track
By Dwight Flenniken
On-line Forty-Niner
He did not throw
a javelin until the end of his junior year at Long Beach State.
His cousin, a member of the UC Santa Barbara track and field
team, urged him to give the sport a try.
Frank Rodriguez not only gave the sport a try, he has become
the LBSU all-time record holder in the javelin. At the Steve
Scott Track and Field Invitational Sunday at UC Irvine, Rodriguez
was the top college finisher with a throw of 214 feet, 1 inch,
breaking Chris Kanowski's LBSU record of 212-6 set in
1996.
His first ever throw was in October of 2001, and the javelin
traveled a distance of 136 feet. Not bad for a first time
throw, but nowhere near competitive standards.
In his first ever track meet two months later, Rodriguez had
a 200-foot throw and took first place.
"He is one of the biggest surprises on our team,"
LBSU coach Andy Sythe said.
Sythe added that Rodriguez's ability and success this season
have really helped the track team this year.
Rodriguez graduated from San Pedro High School in 1998, where
he was class president and was awarded the Future Leader of
San Pedro award.
He will graduate from LBSU this semester with a degree in
criminal justice, and he plans to return in the fall to get
a master's degree in the same subject.
Prior to his stint on the track team, Rodriguez was very involved
in student life at LBSU. He has worked with the ASI Sport
and Spirit Commission, New Student Orientation Commission,
Hispanic Student Business Association, Criminal Justice Student
Association, Student Athlete Advisory Council and the ASI
Entertainment Commission.
"He has still not scratched the surface of his potential,"
Sythe said.
Rodriguez will use his final year of college eligibility and
return to the LBSU track team next year. He is currently working
with former U.S. Olympian and current LBSU assistant track
coach Todd Riech to improve his distance in the javelin throw.
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