Baldwin’s Brown, Murphy 1-2 in boys javelin

Baldwin High senior Eric Brown didn’t waste any time establishing himself as the premier javelin thrower at the Kansas Relays on Friday outside Memorial Stadium.

Brown launched a season-best 207-foot, 11-inch throw on his first attempt and was the lone thrower to break 200 feet as he captured the Relays javelin title for the second consecutive year.

Baldwin High's Eric Brown, right, and Hugh Murphy finished first and second, respectively, in the high school boys javelin at the Kansas Relays.

“Today I wanted to get out to a good start,” said Brown, who also had a 200-2 throw on his third attempt. “It takes pressure off me, but then I get more nervous watching other people throw. I have to wait the whole day to figure out if it held up or not.”

The most pressure Brown received came from teammate Hugh Murphy, who finished second at 196-8.

“He beat me last week (at the K.T. Woodman meet in Wichita), so that was my incentive to do well today,” said Brown, smiling.

A friendly competition has developed between the two teammates, especially after Brown and Murphy placed 1-2 at the Class 4A state meet last spring in Wichita.

“He’s my friend, but we try to go out and beat each other every meet,” said Murphy, who had four throws go for more than 190 feet. “It’s not bad if I lose to him or he loses to me. I don’t think it bothers either one of us.”

BHS javelin coach Ted Zuzzio sure doesn’t mind the rivalry.

“It’s really starting to heat up,” Zuzzio said. “They’re two quality kids. They’re two technicians and they work side by side. They’re the last ones to leave practice.”

Both Brown and Murphy are receiving recruiting attention from major colleges. Arkansas and Kansas top Brown’s list.

“The next couple of weeks I’ll try to get it out of the way,” Brown said of his college choice.

Murphy said KU and Brown University in Providence, R.I., top his list.

“I really like the coaches here at KU,” Murphy said. “It’ll be a tough choice.”

Noonan third in 3,200

Baldwin senior Matt Noonan, headed to Missouri in the fall for cross country and track, placed third in the 3,200-meter run in 9 minutes, 25.76 seconds.

Noonan was a step behind Drew Tonniges of Kearney, Neb., the first four laps. Tonniges, who led most of the way, wound up in second (9:15.14) after being passed in the final 100 meters by Brent Vaughn of Smokey Hill, Colo. Vaughn’s winning time was 9:14.43.

“I had the hope of winning it,” said Noonan, who set a personal record by 11 seconds. “I didn’t know if it was possible or not, but that’s what I was shooting for.”

Noonan also anchored Baldwin’s distance medley relay, which set a school record by 10 seconds.

Babb sixth in high jump

Santa Fe Trail junior Cameron Babb, a 4A state runner-up last spring, placed sixth in the high jump with a 6-4 mark.

Relays records

Riley County’s Erin Mortimer set a relays record in the girls 3,200, finishing in 10:44.08. Amy Wiseman of Lee’s Summit, Mo., held the previous record at 10:44.6. … Jenks, Okla., set a meet record in the distance medley relay in 12:23.32. Jenks held the previous record (12:29.29 last year).