Beyond The Throes Mead Javelin Thrower Beau Chandler Advances Past Athletic Injuries

Beau Chandler learned something about character building as a laborer for a plumbing contractor.

“Over the summer I do grunt work digging holes and stuff, and my boss, Dan McKenna, gets a chuckle out of it,” said Chandler. “He always tells me it builds character.”

McKenna’s advice stood the three-sport Panther athlete in good stead.

Last week Chandler’s 192-0 javelin throw, ranking him among the state’s leaders, made up for disappointing, injury-shortened football and wrestling seasons.

“I think of it as a learning experience,” the philosophical Chandler said of his troubles.

The third game in the football season, Chandler tore a medial collateral knee ligament when colliding with a teammate and watched as the Panthers qualified for state.

The injury delayed his wrestling start until Jan. 4, when he absorbed an embarrassing 17-2 loss to Gonzaga Prep’s Dan Short.

“I didn’t have any reserves,” he said, coming as it did after months lifting weights. “I call it being in shape and being in wrestling shape.”

Chandler got into wrestling shape quickly enough to qualify for regionals. Once there, however, he injured his throwing shoulder.

“I was bounced on my shoulder three times, tearing the muscles,” he said, and was in a sling for 2-1/2 weeks.

Last week’s javelin throw in the Pasco Invitational was indication that last year’s fourth-place AAA state finisher is healed at last.

Chandler won the All-Greater Spokane League junior varsity javelin competition with a 165-foot toss as a sophomore and opened the eyes of Mead High track and field coaches.

“It was the only meet he threw in,” said Coach Gary Baskett. “We knew we had a good one.”

Chandler was a baseball player who picked up a javelin in his spare time but didn’t turn out for track until the baseball season ended.

“It was kind of a shocker. I still didn’t know what I was doing,” Chandler said.

Last year he improved by nearly 20 feet while finishing fourth in state. So far this year he has improved eight additional feet, worrying more about team points than distances.

That is also the reason why, said Chandler, Mead can win its 131st straight league dual meet with victories today against other GSL unbeatens Ferris and University.

“The atmosphere of the program is what sets us apart,” said Chandler. “It’s a family bonding type thing.”

Chandler changed sports because he likes the challenge of the event.

“It is one of those sports where you can’t get to the place where you say you’ve got it,” Chandler said. “That’s what keeps it fun -the idea of getting better.”

It doesn’t hurt to have a coach who is a throwing technician and master motivator.

When Baskett speaks about the physics of javelin throwing, his enthusiasm is barely contained.

He speaks in terms of the body’s rubber band stretch reflex and of torque. The secret of throwing comes, he said, from the transfer of energy created by the firm plant of the leg that moves up through the opposite arm into the javelin.

“The arm doesn’t make a difference,” said Baskett. “That’s why we have so many great throwers. They understand the concept.”

It is a concept to which Chandler, who weighed less than 160 pounds when he uncorked his 184-1 throw at state last year and is perhaps 20 pounds heavier this year, readily adapted.

”(Baskett) is kind of a mind player who knows his stuff and who’s got it down to a science,” said Chandler. “He could get you excited to shovel a driveway.”

Throwing the javelin, however, is more fun.

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