One year ago, Sarah Malone contemplated quitting her javelin career.
Her frustrations boiled over to the point that the desire to throw for the Oregon women’s track and field team nearly disappeared. Communication between the redshirt junior and the previous coaching staff broke down.
“Throwing has been the one thing that I always felt I could hold on to,” the Newberg, Ore., native said. “But the last three years were starting to slip away. I wasn’t happy toward throwing, and that really took its toll on me personally because that is such a huge part of my life.”
Malone also struggled with chronic back pain during her first three years in Eugene, which led to her sitting out last season. After never being given any significant time off from her coaches, she battled a case of depression and wondered whether Oregon was the right place for her.
Then, a change in command occurred.
Men’s head coach Martin Smith entered this year to oversee the women’s team and revive a rebuilding program. Four-time Olympian Lance Deal joined to be the new throwers coach. Deal created a renewed sense of energy throughout the squad, and especially in Malone.
“Coach Deal is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Malone said. “He is the reason why I’m still throwing, to be honest with you. He cares about us as people — not just as athletes — on and off the field.”
Malone now sits atop Oregon’s record books in the javelin section at 179 feet, 7 inches — a mark achieved at last weekend’s Texas Relays in Austin. The former All-American will compete at the Pepsi Team Invitational meet Saturday at Hayward Field.
Her performance in Texas stands now as her proudest accomplishment in her career.
“Lance has done a lot for me,” Malone said. “To be able to use my performance (at Texas) as a reflection of his coaching means a lot to me. I want people to realize he is an exceptional javelin coach. I want to prove to other people that he knows what he’s talking about.”
The first time the two met was at a local track camp. Deal, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist, was nervous about instructing javelin throwers in an event he never competed in. He asked Malone to help him out, and she willingly did. Since then they’ve developed a close relationship.
“It was really nice to have somebody that mature and knowledgeable,” Deal said. “All of the athletes are just a pleasure to work with, and Sarah is no exception. I love my job, and a lot of that has to do with Sarah.”
Malone’s javelin career may not have existed without the persistence of her high school track and field coach at Newberg High School, Joe Boutin. Malone’s first true passion was basketball; she started each game for her freshmen squad and led it to an undefeated record.
But her life changed one afternoon her freshman year. While watching her friend compete in the discus, a man tapped her shoulder from behind, and she turned around.
“He asked me to come over and throw a javelin,” Malone said. “I’ve never seen one before, and I was like ‘hell no.’ I was wearing jeans and street shoes, and I wasn’t in any position to be
doing any athletic activity.”
An argument transpired during the next 10 minutes as the man tried to persuade her to try it.
“To finally shut him up, I walked over, and I picked it up and threw it,” Malone said. “It didn’t go anywhere — it was a terrible throw.”
The man persuaded her to continue throwing for the next 45 minutes, and she ended up achieving an impressive 100 feet. The man turned out to be Boutin — her coach for the next three years.
Malone went to the state championships that year, where she finished ninth overall. She capped her career by winning Oregon’s 4A high-school title in the javelin her senior year.
Malone credits Boutin for the success she has had so far and the great experience javelin has given her the past seven years.
“(Coach Boutin) could tell just by the way I threw that (first) day,” Malone said. “He told me ‘If you stick with this, I promise you, you can sign your education anywhere you want to go.’”
By the time her senior year approached, 12 universities, including Kansas, Georgia and North Carolina, came calling.
She chose Oregon after meeting with her eventual teammates. Also, having the opportunity to practice and
compete at legendary Hayward Field was too good to pass up.
“The people I was going to be interacting with (at Oregon) were unmatched,” Malone said. “Nowhere else did I see the camaraderie, and that means a lot to me coming from a large family.”
Malone said she feels better than ever and is injury-free for the first time since arriving in Tracktown, USA. By surrounding herself with coaches who instill positive thinking, she said she is has what she wanted all along — teammates and coaches who show they care.
“That’s why I think I’m doing so well now,” Malone said. “With having my one thing that I really hold dear to my heart be challenged and make it into the situation I am in now, I am thankful everyday for the opportunity to have met Coach Deal and be a part of this new program.”
Malone carries a rock everywhere she goes engraved with the word ‘perseverance’ to remind her of the her battles and the numerous times she chose not to give up. She also wears a green bracelet to help her remember whom she represents.
“I’m a Duck through and through,” Malone said. “And anything I can do to have a good reflection upon this University and this track program.