Friday, April 13, 2012

PSU is Javelin U

Penn State has had a strong tradition in the Women's Javelin and this early season has seen some good performances to keep the tradition alive. Last week at the LSU Invitational, Penn State again dominated the event:

1 Laura Loht                SO Penn State              49.91mM    163-09 
      44.91m  49.91m  49.48m  49.06m  46.08m  49.53m
  2 Lauren Kenney             FR Penn State              47.47m     155-09 
      FOUL  47.33m  45.39m  43.94m  46.71m  47.47m

8 Megan Boyer               SO Penn State              40.59m     133-02 
      40.59m  38.86m  FOUL  34.70m  39.57m  38.36m

10 Melanie Leszcynski        FR Penn State              35.49m     116-05 
      35.49m  34.40m  34.35m            
 11 Olivia Mangan             FR Penn State              33.81m     110-11 
      31.59m  31.45m  33.81m
Speaking of the javelin, here's a neat article about  Dana Zatopkova, Emil Zatopek's widow.  She was once the World Record Holder in the Javelin and the Olympic Gold Medalist in the event.  She made 4 straight Olympic teams starting in 1948.  She still has her wooden javelin used to win the Gold, now the handle of a broom.



And for you javelin aficionados out there, I have a question for you.  What is the optimal release angle for the javelin?  While I'm at it, what is the optimal release angle for the shot put, discuss and hammer too?   And would your answer be the same as what a Physicist would answer?
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5 comments:

  1. GaryApril 13, 2012 at 10:28 AM

    The optimal release angle would be determined by the velocity at release and the height of release. Did some work with Dr. Dick Nelson at the Biomechanical Lab at PSU.
    Gary Schwartz-former PSU coach

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  2. AnonymousApril 13, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    So a taller thrower with longer arms would have a different release angle, depending on velocity, than a shorter one??

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  3. AnonymousApril 13, 2012 at 1:48 PM

    Different meaning steeper or shallower?

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  4. skwilliApril 13, 2012 at 2:03 PM

    Thanks, Coach. I assume this means lower angles of trajectory in the shot put as larger men are spinning faster than in the "olden days"? I also assume this means that the optimal angle is more similar for all the disciplines than it used to be? I really should look all this stuff up myself! (There's never a better time to put something off than right now.)

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  5. skwilliApril 13, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    From a scholarly study:

    "For all five athletes, the calculated optimum release angle was in good agreement with the athlete’s preferred release angle."

    Maybe it is not of much concern after all?

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Thanks for commenting. Keep up the good work! (Try to mention others to encourage them to comment too!)