Southeast Missouri State University javelin thrower Ben Stricklin competes in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships Friday at the Abe Stuber Track Complex in Cape Girardeau. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

By David Jenkins ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- One year ago, Ben Stricklin was just picking up the javelin and throwing it for the first time. Now he is the Ohio Valley Conference Champion in the event.

Stricklin, a fifth-year senior for the Southeast Missouri State University track team, won the javelin event Friday afternoon at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships held at the Abe Stuber Track Complex in Cape Girardeau.

"I didn't throw as well as I wanted to, but I came out on top," said Stricklin, a former New Madrid County Central graduate. "I just wish I would have had a little bit better performance."

Stricklin won the event with a throw of 192 feet, 8 inches, beating his closest opponent by more than 18 feet while battling wind and wet conditions in the process.

"I had quite a few slips actually," Stricklin said of the wet track. "It really affects how you can release the javelin. You aren't able to transfer that power into the javelin. It's really a mental thing if anything."

A year ago, Stricklin knew very little about throwing the javelin, but a trip to the track peaked his interest.

"I had class with one of the javelin throwers and he told me to come out and try it one day last April," Stricklin said. "I did and (head) coach (Joey) Haines and (assistant) coach (Eric) Crumpecker said they would like to see me out here a little bit more."

A former baseball pitcher in high school, Stricklin used his pitching skills while working primarily on his own last spring, competing in only one meet. But as Stricklin learned, the better he became and the harder he worked.

"I worked hard this summer and worked hard this fall and it's paying off now," Stricklin said.

That work ethic became one of Stricklin's strengths and his coaches took notice.

"He's been willing to learn and has become a student of the event," Crumpecker said. "He really wants to learn how to do it right. His enthusiasm about it has been tremendous. It's been one of the funnest ex- periences I've ever had coaching in working with him."

"I credit everything to coach Crumpecker," Stricklin said. "He's really helped me out and works with me four, five days a week sometimes. He's a great coach and he's helped me along the way, every step."

While Stricklin learned quickly he wasn't without athletic experience in college as he has been a member of the Southeast cheerleading squad the last three years. He said his cheerleading has only helped him become a better javelin thrower.

"From throwing girls around your muscles become more powerful. You're able to explode through things and it transfers over. I'm able to throw the javelin as far as I can throw some girls," Stricklin laughed.

And Stricklin has thrown very well. On April 5 at the SEmotion Relays, Stricklin threw the javelin 214-6, winning the event by more than 40 feet. He also qualified for the NCAA Regionals which requires a toss of over 202 feet. Stricklin's throw in the event is fourth all-time in Southeast " history.

I knew he was going to come out and throw pretty good but I never dreamt he would come out and throw 214 feet," Crumpecker said. "I figured he would have been around 180 and that would have been good after one year. For him to come out and do what he's done has been tremendous."

Stricklin said he wants to set the school record, which right now is 223-3, set by Randy Johnson in 1997.

"I would really like to have my name at the top of that board," Stricklin said. "I'd like to hit 225, that's a realistic goal."

Unfortunately for Stricklin his time is limited as he has just a couple meets remaining. As a fifth-year senior, this is the last year Stricklin, who will graduate with an exercise science degree " next week, is eligible.

I would like to know where he was four years ago," laughed Crumpecker. "To come out and win a conference title off of practically nine months work and to be as highly ranked in the country as he is, that's tremendous."

"Everything just seems kind of surreal really," Stricklin said of the last year. "I have no idea what I'm doing here."

What Stricklin is doing is proving he is the best javelin thrower in the Ohio Valley Conference.