It’s official. Two-time All-American javelin thrower Karis Howell’s Oregon women’s track and field career is over.
Howell, who placed seventh at the NCAA Championships javelin toss last year, has experienced shoulder pain for a few years and even practiced left-handed at times last season.
The senior had been to the NCAA Championships three times in her career. After “huddling with team doctors,” according to head coach Tom Heinonen, Howell decided to call it quits in the interest of saving her body.
“It’s a big, big loss for us,” Heinonen said.
Howell’s last meet was the Oregon Preview earlier this season, where she placed third behind Oregon’s Sarah Malone and Charyl Weingarten.
Howell exits the Oregon team as the record holder for the new javelin implement with a mark of 168 feet, one inch.
Waiting in the wings
Out of Howell’s disappointment, a new star in the javelin is rising to take her place: freshman Sarah Malone.
Malone has already thrown an NCAA provisional distance in the javelin. Twice. The freshman threw the implement 155-3 at the Oregon Preview, then moved up the provisional list by throwing it 165-1 at the Willamette Open last week.
“Sarah is in the right place at the right time for us,” Heinonen said. “She’s making it happen.”
The Ducks also have other javelin throwers coming through the ranks. Senior Sara Dinsmore threw a personal best at the Willamette and barely missed a Pac-10 qualifying mark, while sophomore Weingarten threw a Pac-10 qualifying distance at the Oregon Preview.

Looking ahead to the weekend
As the rain falls once more in the city of Eugene, Oregon is hoping for rain of another kind this weekend.
The Ducks are hoping to rain on the Huskies’ parade.
Oregon will take on Washington in its only dual meet of the season Saturday at Hayward Field. For the Duck athletes, it is their first chance of the season to compete together instead of going for individual scores. Each team will notch points toward their overall scores depending on how they perform in each event.
“Last year, when we won, we did a victory lap around Hayward, and it really felt like a team,” said sophomore long jumper Amanda Brown, referring to last season’s 80-74 Oregon victory in the Washington Dual.
Of course, the team competition doesn’t mean that the Ducks will lose sight of their everyday goals, which include qualifying for the Pac-10’s and NCAA Championships.
“Everybody has to hold their own out there, and then we worry about the team,” sophomore sprinter Lucretia Larkin said.
Oregon athletes have come close to qualifying for the NCAA Championships — which will be held at Hayward Field May 30-June 2 — but many have had to settle for provisional marks. Heinonen said many of those athletes with provisional marks should end up in the NCAA’s.
The Washington Dual will take place Saturday, starting at noon.
Notes: Sophomore Jenny Brogdon qualified for the Pac-10’s in the high jump by clearing 5-7 at the Willamette Open last weekend. Brogdon was the second Oregon athlete to clear that height; Racheal Kriz did it at the Bearcat Invitational. Sophomore Mary Etter, who scored three victories at the Willamette, scored a personal best in the hammer to add to her list of accomplishments.