Local high school junior Bryson Jacobs wins javelin title at Nike Outdoor Nationals
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- Bryson Jacobs won the Nike Outdoor Nationals javelin title with a 220-3 throw.
- Jacobs became the state champion this season and broke the high school record.
- Focused training and early specialization fueled Jacobs’ rise to national success.
Adrian High School javelin thrower Bryson Jacobs set a goal to throw over 200 feet heading into his junior season.
He wasn’t sure if he’d make it. But when he threw over 213 feet to win the boys javelin throw final at the KU Relays in mid-April, just around the halfway point of his season, Jacobs’ perspective on what was possible shifted.
Jacobs went on to win the Class 2 state title and set a new state record. But his season didn’t end there. On June 21, Jacobs secured a national title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, with a throw of 220-3.
“I was very excited,” Jacobs said. “They didn’t get the video of me celebrating it, but then I remembered the guy had one more throw, so I got pretty scared after that.”
But Jacobs’ sixth and final throw was enough to secure the title by the slightest margin, as the runner-up threw 220-2.25.
Jacobs began throwing at the age of 8 in AAU track and field. He has been a multi-sport athlete, holding spots on both the varsity basketball and football teams at Adrian, but decided to dedicate his time to throwing heading into his junior year.
“With my throw of 195 over the summer last year, I was like, ‘OK, I could really, really do this and go to a D-I school,’” Jacobs said.
In addition to his high school coach who works with him during the season, Jacobs also has a strength coach and outside throwing coach. When he isn’t training, he puts time into studying the sport on his own.
Jacobs’ javelin coach Frank Perbeck described him as a student of the event. Both Perbeck and Jacobs’ high school coach, Shaun Bruto, also highlighted his competitive nature.
“Bryson has always had high expectations of himself,” Perbeck said. “He was going with the attitude that he was going to win it. He’s got that special quality that always keeps him driven.”
Jacobs already has big plans for his senior season. In addition to throwing further, he’s looking for a spot on a Division I roster.
“I’m going to shoot big,” Jacobs said. “I’m looking to throw 240 or 245.”
