Carvahlo goes Olympic

Not only will Sac State host the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials this summer, but it will also be represented in the competition by one of its students.

This became official earlier this fall when Physical Education major Justin Carvahlo qualified to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team as a hammer thrower.

“I am very excited about the competition,” Carvahlo said. “My strength level has gone up a lot since my last meet back in June and this winter my training is very technique oriented. I hope to see these things lead to better results when I start throwing the hammer competitively again.”

Carvahlo says he can expects to throw the hammer between 220 and 230 feet by trials time. This would meet the goal he set for himself at the beginning of the year and probably put him in the top 10 at the trials.

“Making the Olympic team this year would be a big jump,” Carvahlo said. “But I think I can make the top 10. I have to keep my goals realistic. I want to have a good meet and make the finals. Then I really think I can have a shot at making the Olympic team for the 2004 Olympics.”

In addition to having already qualified for the trials, Carvahlo is also in training for the U.S. weightlifting competition where, if he finishes near the top, he can qualify to compete at the Olympic trials in another event.

While Carvahlo admits it would be nice to qualify in two events, he concedes that it won’t be easy.

“I’m not ruling my self out, but at this point in my training the gains are small. So I’m not banking on it this year,” Carvahlo said. “Then after the weightlifting championships, all of my training will focus around the hammer.”

The fact that he is attempting to compete at this level in two sports has not made these accomplishments any easier on him.

“He is doing something very difficult by competing nationally in two sports,” said Carvahlo’s weightlifting coach, Bill Kutzer.

Kutzer, however, did note that Carvahlo may have just what it takes to succeed in his endeavors.

“I think he has a very good chance of reaching his goals,” said Kutzer. “He is very mature in his approach to training, he is very even keeled. Besides, he is a gamer and usually gets the maximum out of his ability during competition.”

The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials will take place at Hornet Stadium on July 14-23, 2000.,