Competing at the Georgia Tech Invitational for the first time in six years, M45 Roald Bradstock threw the javelin 71.07 meters (233-2) Friday night and won the event against a field that included 26 collegians. (See results here.) “The conditions were perfect,” Roald writes. “All six of my throws beat the second chap and my best two throws set new (single-age) world records (48). The first coming in the fourth round — 70.40 (231-0) and then the second in the fourth round with 71.07. In addition to that I had people cheering, clapping for me. I signed a few autographs, posed for a few pictures and shook a lot of hands. Who would have thought an old bloke could get such a reaction at a track meet? Amazing!” He says his next meet is the UK open nationals June 25, “my first national championships in 16 years — should be fun. I am currently ranked third with my seasons best of 71.22 (233-8).”

In notes sent today, Roald continued:

After I get back from the UK, I will take a week off and then the real training begins. Next year my goal is to get the qualifying mark for the 2012 UK Olympic Trials — 68 meters (223-1) — and try, yes try, to get the the (Olympic) “B” standard –77.50m (254-3) Impossible? No. But it will be very, very hard. I will need to hit the perfect throw with the perfect conditions.

The following year, in 2012, my focus will move to obliterating the world masters records for 50+ with the 700g and competing in my eighth and final Olympic Trials at age 50!

Its all about the journey right? I take one day and one throw at a time. Hopefully my body can hold out a few more years. Everything now is about injury prevention and working around my ever growing list of limitations and restrictions. . . .

Last time I threw at GA Tech six years ago YouTube was only a few months old. Most of the athletes I threw against yesterday and many others — coaches, spectators — knew about me and my throwing antics from YouTube. One guy even pulled out his iPhone and started showing his friend my videos! Amazing how times have changed and amazing how and how quickly the younger generation communicate with one another now.

Here are the results from Athens, Georgia:

Men Javelin Throw
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Name Year School Seed Finals Points
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1 Roald Bradstock unattached 71.22m 71.07m 233-02
2 Jason Flanagan Coastal Caro 68.28m 67.34m 220-11
3 Matt Evans Western Caro 66.18m 66.80m 219-02
4 Ben Lincoln Wake Forest 65.34m 63.58m 208-07
5 Sean Domer Radford 60.79m 63.53m 208-05
6 Bryan Howard Florida Stat 65.04m 60.90m 199-10
7 Thomas Sensing Wake Forest 63.07m 60.56m 198-08
8 Darron Dotson Western Caro 61.77m 60.02m 196-11
9 Thomas Oliver Samford 63.35m 59.85m 196-04
10 Matt Tuffuor Morehouse 59.45m 59.76m 196-01
11 Josh Pelletier High Point 65.97m 59.73m 195-11
12 Glen Odem South Alabam 61.89m 59.65m 195-08
13 Luke Hadden Wake Forest 61.96m 59.38m 194-10
14 Mark Messanger Birmingham-S 58.00m 58.02m 190-04
15 Chris Tillotson Coastal Caro 57.29m 57.93m 190-01
16 Matt McMurdo Salisbury 60.54m 56.59m 185-08
17 Jared Baird Winthrop 65.05m 55.85m 183-03
18 Bryan Fill Coastal Caro 58.49m 55.14m 180-11
19 Casey Carl Bethel (Tenn 57.80m 55.01m 180-06
20 Stephen Castillejo Wake Forest 57.58m 54.03m 177-03
21 Mackenzie Howell Troy 62.23m 53.86m 176-08
22 Justin Oliver Morehouse 58.67m 52.78m 173-02
23 Mike Moore Charlotte 61.58m 52.74m 173-00
24 Ryland Robbins Samford 59.32m 51.36m 168-06
25 Stephen Calogrides South Alabam 55.35m 51.11m 167-08
— Miller Moss Clemson 49.47m FOUL
— Ethan Kuster Charlotte 57.26m FOUL