OPINION —
It’s not every day Mercer County can boast of having a world-class athlete, but it can now.
Hermitage resident Amy Javens continues to excel on the tri-athlon circuit. Recently, the 40-year-old ended 8th in her age group (40-44) at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Competing amidst approximately 1,900 triathletes, Javens made her mark on the world stage in a collective clocking of 10:39. That included the swim (1:13) in the ocean’s bay; bike (5:40) — bypassing approximately 100 other competitors during the final 30 miles — and marathon run (5:40) along the Queen K lava fields — all in spite of a painful calf sprain.
The former Hickory High standout athlete, on her web site (www.amyjavenstriathlete.com) blogged, “ ... Running down Palani hill at mile-24 (of the marathon) was an amazing feeling, and I smiled the whole way! Ali’i Drive greeted me with a tunnel of people a quarter of a mile long. I had never heard cheering so constant like I had up to the finish line ... ”
Javens was accompanied on her journey by her husband Chad and their daughters, who greeted her at the finish line, enabling her to “ ... enjoy my last joyful moments, thankful for my blessings.”
Despite her workload, Javens indicated she will not be slowing down any time soon, blogging,
“What now? Inspired by Natascha Badmann’s 6th-place pro finish at the age of 47, I am encouraged that I do have some good years left in the sport. I have improvements that are imperative, and a right of passage of obtaining a KOA bowl before I will — or if I will — ever take that next big step.
“I will continue to race amateur elite in 2013, and focus on earning another trip back to the island and, hopefully, place higher, learn Ironman racing and training a bit more — after racing two IM races I am still a ‘newbie’ to this distance — train more overload, hit higher wattages, and improve my swim technique.
“Remaining healthy and balancing family with the sport will be a high priority, as always. But, as we all know, life if what happens as we make plans ... ”
Expressing gratitude to family, friends and others who have supported her, Javens cited the theme for this year’s IM World Championships: “Aa Na Maka O Na — the sparkling eyes of my roots,” or “as we live our lives, we will never lose our way as long as we remember where we came from. Success is about respecting our roots, taking value in what we learned, and embracing our journey.”
Specifically for her, Javens refers to it as “the Power of Three”: Mind, body, spirit, to faith, hope, love. ... To me it means my three daughters, strength, swim, bike, run, life’s struggles, as well as many other significances that I have had or will share in my blog.”
Leading up to the IM World Championships, Javens enjoyed a busy journey this past spring and summer. Included in some of her more recent events, she: ä Placed as runnerup in her age class at the Pittsburgh Triathlon in July. Her cumulative 2:21.55 clocking included the swim (24:36), bike (1:09.06) and run (45:32). She was bested only by Heather Westerman (2:17.27) in the 40-44 age group, and finished 4th among all females and 56th overall.
ä Finished 4th in her age class at the Ironman 70.3 Eagleman Triathlon in Cambridge, Md. in June. Javens’ 4:49.10 clocking included the swim (33:09), bike (2:34.05) and run (1:37.55) as she placed 20th among all women and 175th overall.
ä At the Eischsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans in April she was runnerup in the 40-44 class, edged by Nusha Pelicano, 4:15.46 to 4:17.40. Javens’ respective times were 13:56 (run), 2:27.04 (bike) and 1:34.35 (run).
“As far as 2014, only my Kapunas (elders, including her mother and grandparents) know. ... gone, their physical presence may be from this earth, but spiritually very close and always with me ...”
Sports
Related Photos
-
Local triathlete Amy Javens competes in the World Ironman Championship in Hawaii. Contributed
COUNTY NOTEBOOK: Local triathlete Amy Javens making marks on national, world stages
- Sports
-
-
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. -
Roundup: WM sweeps Oil Country Track & Field Invite
West Middlesex swept the team titles on Saturday at the Oil Country Invitational at Oil City High School on Saturday.
Coach Bob Morris’ Ms. Reds accumulated 113 points to grab the crown, followed by Lakeview (107.5), Franklin (84), Meadville (74) and Corry (69.5). - More Sports Headlines
-
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
