View full sizeIn this May 8, 2009 file photo, Justin Shirk of Central Dauphin wins the boys javelin during the first day of the Mid-Penn track and field championships at Landis Field. JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News Three years ago, Justin Shirk wrapped up his third consecutive AAA state championship in the javelin at Central Dauphin, now he is celebrating a national championship. Shirk became Bloomsburg’s first national champion in track and field on May 26, winning the javelin with a personal best throw of 71.90 meters (235 feet, 11 inches) at the NCAA Division II meet in Pueblo, Colo.
“Any chance you get to go to a championship meet or competition, it’s always good to come out on top,” said Shirk in an interview on Tuesday.
In a competition where the second place throw from a year ago would have finished fifth, Shirk saved the best throw of his career for the biggest stage.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for me. I’ve struggled all year and the last couple years I’ve been trying to get back on top and throw where I should be potentially throwing,” said Shirk.
“It’s always gratifying to see an athlete’s hard work come to full on the athletic field,” said head coach Bernie Empie. “There’s countless hours of practice and work that goes in to what little glimpse people get to see on a competition day…for in his case six throws and one very special throw that made him a national champion.”
After graduating from Central Dauphin in 2009, Shirk attended Oklahoma University but only stayed for a year, sighting unhappiness as his reason for leaving.
“Things just weren’t working out at Oklahoma, it was a bad experience. I missed football, track wasn’t going well, grades were slipping and I just wasn’t happy there,” said Shirk. “I missed home, I missed my parents, and I missed family.”
Shirk decided to go back to his original commitment to Bloomsburg where in high school, he had his sights on to play football. When finally arriving to Bloomsburg, Shirk took on the task of balancing both football and track.
“Justin has a great work ethic. He has done a great job at balancing commitments to our football program,” said Empie. “He has done a great job at balancing the two and working hard in both avenues, both on the football field and in the weight room and certainly on the javelin runway, getting his reps throwing. I couldn’t ask for someone who is balancing the two to be more dedicated than he is.”
Shirk is also excelling in his football career at Bloomsburg as well. In his first year playing for the Huskies, he was named second team All-PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) as a linebacker. Continuing to succeed as an athlete, Shirk has much support from the people around him.
“My parents have always been there for me during my athletics. They’ve always taken me to events and been there to watch me compete,” said Shirk. “My coaches have helped me get to the level I am at and making me the person I am.”
The coaches at Bloomsburg saw the potential in Shirk when he arrived to the school and knew his ability was comparable with the best in the country.
“It’s certainly something everyone knew was possible, for him to throw that well and compete on that level for a national title, but it’s totally different when you are in the moment and those things are starting to become a reality,” said Empie.
The next season will be Shirk’s last throwing the javelin on the collegiate level as he will forgo his final year of eligibility for track to play an extra year of football. For his athletic future, he wants “to win the national championship again in Javelin in my last year of track. For Football, I want to be first-team all-conference, lead team in tackles and maybe all-region or maybe even All-American in a year or two.”