I was completely prepared to write about something other than my kids and their sporting exploits this week. In fact, was already halfway through an article on biomarkers (sounds boring, I know) when I decided to finish the series on my son’s 2023 outdoor track and field season. What the heck, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Anyway, the other week, he won the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, which I had mentioned in my previous article is one of several high-level track and field competitions held in the US this time of year. I thought we were finished for the season, barring some fun regional summer meets. Nope. “Hey, Dad, can I go to the U20 (under 20 years old) Nationals in Oregon?”

Aw crap, I’m thinking. “Uh, we’ll talk about it later.” I’m doing the mental calculations like every parent — time off, cost for entry, flight, hotel, car rental, food, etc. Yes, I want to see my son fulfill his dreams, maybe go to the Olympics someday. The other part of me is very, very tired. The Philadelphia meet, along with the recent traveling and everything else, wore me out. My wife, she’s a saint, says, “You need to take him.” The next day, “Are you taking him?” The next day, “We need to register him,” and so on. “Uh, fine, let’s do this,” I say reluctantly.

Here is where it gets interesting. This meet is officially called the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships and is a step up from anything he has ever done. It is held every year in Eugene, Oregon, which is known as Track Town USA. The actual competition takes place at Hayward Field, on the campus of the University of Oregon.

For javelin specifically, just to compete as a U20 athlete, he needs a qualifying mark of 191 feet. Keep in mind this distance would win most Division 1 collegiate meets. In addition, most of the athletes in the U20 division are actually collegiate athletes. Following the U20 competition is the men’s open division, which has a qualifying standard of over 249 feet. These are minimum standards just to compete. When we looked up the seeding, Peter came in around the middle of the pack with his best throws. Not bad for likely being the youngest competitor for his event. The qualifying marks for the men were at the Olympic level, with verified throws over 275 feet.

Another aspect that differentiates this meet from others that we’ve attended is that the top 7 places receive cash prizes, with 1st place winning $8,000. Athletes are also allowed to compete in multiple events. In addition, returning champions are given a travel stipend of $1,500. Athletes eligible to compete at the collegiate level will need to check with their university compliance office to see if they are even able to receive prize money. In recent years, the NCAA has relaxed the rules concerning compensation and sponsorship of athletes, but as far as I can tell, there are still a lot of gray areas. Because these higher-level competitions are very expensive to attend, I actually looked into sponsorship for Peter. My understanding is that athletes are able to receive money without jeopardizing their collegiate eligibility so long as it does not exceed travel and competition expenses. To further complicate the matter, on June 30, 2021, the NCAA approved a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy which allows Division 1, 2, and 3 athletes to receive compensation for their NIL. These are things I never thought I would need to worry about for my kids, but it seems it may come up in the next few years as they attend these big competitions. To be honest, I’m still working through all of these policies to gain a better understanding of them.

Regarding the check-in and competition, the rules are much more rigid than anything we’ve been through thus far. Athletes have very strict deadlines for qualifying, registering, then declaring, which simply means that they guarantee they will show up to compete. There are no exceptions to any of these deadlines as the meeting schedule is organized to the minute, and they do not want anyone messing it up. The website posted a 21-page document with the rules and regulations, which I am also still reading. This includes the rule that once his equipment is checked in, it is impounded until the completion of the event. My understanding is that on the day of the competition, the athletes are taken to a warm-up area where they are kept until it is their turn to throw. They are then led out to the runway for their attempt. Again, there is a very strict schedule of events, and officials are everywhere to make sure the rules are followed. This competition also serves as a selection event for one of several higher-level competitions: the 2023 NACAC U23 Championships in Costa Rica, the 2023 Thorpe Cup in Germany, and the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Germany.

We are still figuring out how to safely check his javelins on a plane without losing them on the cross-country trip and other logistical issues. Regardless of what happens and where he places, however, we both know this will be a learning experience and an awesome adventure. Stay tuned for updates.