For former Baldwin High javelin thrower Eric Brown, a trip to next month’s Olympic Trials was nothing more than a fantasy a year ago.

Now, after his sophomore year at Arkansas University, Brown will be packing his bags in July for the Trials in Sacramento, Calif. He earned the berth after placing a surprising third in the NCAA Outdoor championships last weekend in Austin, Texas.

“When I first came here, I thought I’d be doing well,” Brown said. “I never thought I’d be so high in the country maybe until my senior year.”

Brown saved his best throw for his sixth and final attempt in last Saturday’s NCAA javelin finals. The heave traveled 246 feet, 3 inches, shattering the school record of 241-11 that had stood since 1990. The toss also eclipsed Brown’s previous best — a 235-6 effort at the Texas Relays.

Among the family and friends on hand to witness his record throw was his grandfather, Phil Huntsinger of Lawrence.

“It’s the most exciting event we’ve ever seen,” Huntsinger said. “I’ve still got goose bumps just thinking about it.”

Huntsinger is one of a long-line of athletes in the family. A retired Kansas University education professor, Huntsinger played football and baseball at Friends University in Wichita. Daughter Jill, a former Lawrence High athlete, is Baldwin High’s volleyball coach. Another daughter, Jo, is Lawrence High’s volleyball coach.

Eric’s sister, Emily, has signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Kansas University. Their father Dan is a former Kansas Highway Patrolman who now works at the KHP office in Topeka.

Many of the Browns and Huntsingers plan to make the trek to Sacramento where they hope to see him qualify to go to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. None of them had planned on it because until last Saturday Brown had not met the Olympics A qualifying standard of 239-6.

Brown’s mission prior to his sophomore season was to reach the Olympics B qualifying standard of 230 feet. He did that quickly, throwing 235-6 feet in the Razorbacks’ outdoor opener — the Texas Relays in early April. Incidentally, he became the first Razorback to win the javelin in the 77-year history of the Texas Relays.

Eric Brown of Baldwin High unleashes the javelin during a 2002 meet. Brown, who just completed his sophomore year at Arkansas University, will compete in the Olympic Trials next month in Sacramento, Calif.

Brown earned a scholarship from Arkansas’ tradition-rich track program in 2002 after winning Class 4A state spear titles as a Baldwin High junior and senior. He threw 215-0 as a junior in 2001 and 197-0 under bad weather conditions in 2002.

Injuries hampered him during a spotty freshman season with the Razorbacks. His best throw as a yearling was a little more than 206 feet.

“Going to college and working out so much more, I think that really affected me,” Brown said. “I got so strong so fast. This year I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve still had problems this year, but they were more manageable. At a meet I can always overcome it and be able to throw.”

Following Brown’s impressive start at the Texas Relays, he was a model of consistency. Brown tossed the lance more than 230 feet in four other meets, including 234-7 at the SEC Outdoor where he finished second.

Brown credits the Arkansas coaching staff for having him practice with the lighter women’s javelin.

“That’s really helped me increase my arm speed,” he said.

Brown says he’s confident he’ll make a good showing at next month’s Olympic Trials, but at the same time he realizes that earning a berth on the U.S. team will be a reach.

To qualify for the Olympic Games, a javelin thrower must throw at least 268 feet. The U.S. can send as many as three javelin throwers to Athens, but the only safe bet to qualify is 27-year old Breaux Greer, who finished 12th at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Either way, for a small-town man with big-time Olympic dreams, just getting the chance to qualify is an accomplishment in itself.