Central Dauphin freshman Justin Shirk has been near the top of the state in the Javelin most of the season, finishing 3rd in the PIAA AAA competition at states with a throw of 198-07. According to the rankings by both the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) and PennTrackXC.com, that is his season-best and a PR. But while checking through the performance list for the Nike Outdoor Nationals, another performance by Justin Shirk was clearly noticeable. It was a 207-05 and it was labeled as the US Freshman record, set in May, 2006.
The 198-07 will remain the best mark on both PTFCA and PennTrackXC.com. The 207-05 will remain the US Freshman record. The reason is simple... PTFCA and PennTrackXC.com do not accept dual/tri/quad meet marks for rankings because of the potential for inconsistency in both officiating and in the physical standards of field event venues. Likewise, the Penn Relays, according to scholastic chair Tim Hickey, has a similar policy.
And that is the difference. One of policy. Jack Shepard, who is the highly respected High School Men\'s Editor for Track and Field News – and the keeper of US High School records which he publishes annually in High School Track – has a policy of accepting record performances from any meet. \"I have always included dual/triangular meet marks on the lists and as records.\"
For the record, the 207-05 was on May 2 in a dual meet against Chambersburg at Central Dauphin High School. And also for the record, the javelin throw area at CD is flat.
Should Shirk throw over 207-05 this weekend at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, it will all be a moot point.