Mai shatters personal record

Commander of 9th Financial Mangement Co. finishes 4th in weight throw event at 2010 U.S. indoor championships

Bob Reinert/Northwest Guardian

He had planned to go after it, and that’s just what Mike Mai did.

Competing in the weight throw at last weekend’s 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., Mai stepped into the throwing circle for the second of his six attempts. His toss of 77 feet, 8 inches surpassed his personal record by more than 2 feet and clinched fourth place in the championships for Mai, a 32-year-old major and commander of the 9th Financial Management Company and the Defense Military Pay Office at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

“It is hard to be disappointed with a 2-foot personal best, especially when that distance would have won the competition last year and many other years, but I knew I had more in me,” Mai said. “I believe that actually puts me ... ninth ... in U.S. history, yet (I) still only finished fourth this year.”

A.G. Kruger won the competition with a throw of 82 feet, the best in the U.S. this year. Nike teammate Cory Martin finished second at 80 feet, followed by Jake Freeman of the New York Athletic Club (78 feet, 8.25 inches) in third, and Mai.

“That was the fiercest indoor hammer or weight competition in 15 years,” said Dave Swan, Mai’s coach and chairman of the men’s hammer throw for USA Track and Field. “He was against tremendous competition. He really had to compete well.”

Mai, a U.S. Military Academy graduate and former member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, recognized how tough the competition was.

“Hats off to A.G. Kruger,” Mai said. “He had the 10th-best throw in the history of the event, and a new personal best.”

The world record of 84 feet, 10.5 inches, set by Lance Deal, has stood since 1995.

Ranked seventh in the U.S. heading into nationals, Mai has been making rapid progress lately in the weight throw despite training sessions limited by a heavy workload. He had a PR of 75 feet, 7.5 inches at the Washington Husky Invitational in late January.

“His is a sub-optimal training schedule,” Swan said. “He’s a fairly independent and self-driven guy.”

Mai fouled on three of his six attempts at nationals. He pointed out that even his longest throw was less than perfect.

“I competed very well mentally,” Mai said. “It was just those technical things that I need to improve upon, and that comes with repetition.”

Still, Swan found much to praise about Mai’s performance at Albuquerque.

“It would have been really easy to crumble under the pressure,” Swan said. “He’s a Soldier, through and through. I’m just very proud of him.”

Indoor championship

Men’s results*

Name Team Throw

1. A.G. Kruger Nike 82-00

2. Cory Martin Nike 80-00

3. Jake Freeman NYAC 78-08.25

4. Mike Mai Army 77-08

5. Garland Porter None 76-08.25

*In feet