Mahler gears up for what should be a big weekend
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Rob Mahler, a senior on Brick Township’s track and field team, says he is ready to defend his Ocean County championship in the javelin when the meet starts on Wednesday and resumes on Saturday.

And the “good thing” about it, says Mahler, is that it’s at his school’s field.

“I feel I’m ready,” said Mahler.

But he and his coach, Pete Panuska, both feel he can score big points in three events —including the discus and the shot put, in which he is competing outdoors for the first time on a regular basis after seeing some spot competition last spring when he was needed.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that,” said Mahler. “A lot of guys place in the discus and shot put, which are more strength events, and the javelin is a totally different event because it is based on technique.”

“Right now he has a challenge ahead [in the javelin] against a guy from Southern,” said Panuska. “He can win the discus and finish second in the shot put.”

But Mahler well remembers a year ago when he hit a peak and then a valley in the big weekend meets in the javelin. He uncorked a record-setting throw in the county meet of 195-feet, 8-inches, which was 25 feet beyond his nearest competitor and was the best throw in the state at the time. It was second in Brick Township annals only to Ray Schlauk’s throw of 205 feet set in 1989.

He was a disappointment in the Shore Conference, finishing third with a best throw that day of nearly 30 feet less than what he threw in the county — 167-4. Mahler had to leave early that day for the junior prom.

And then, he did not even qualify for the Meet of Champions, despite being seeded No. 1 in NJSIAA Central Jersey.

After fouling on his first two throws (including the second throw of over 180 feet that would have gotten him into the MOC), which has been a problem for him this season, Mahler did something he hadn’t done all season on his third try. He stopped down the runway before throwing. He had waited for a while because there was a strong headwind that would hurt his throw. He tried again and had to contort his body to avoid fouling yet another time and threw 153 feet.

“I feel a lot better going in,” said Mahler. “I threw 195 in the county and then in the Shore Conference, I just blew it. I was not consistent.”

But with a special assistant coach working with him who is well-versed in the javelin in Bobby Acosta, Mahler said his training differs almost every day and covers different aspects of his technique.

“I haven’t had any big throws; they’re all about the same range,” said Mahler. “They’re consistent and not any bad ones. It should be a good meet for me.”

The only blot on his season was in the Penn Relays two weekends ago when Mahler had trouble adjusting to the surface of the runway and barely fouled on a good, long throw on his first attempt, and then clearly fouled on his following two tries.

Mahler is lengthening his distances and last Saturday threw 187 feet in the Ocean County relay championships before a downpour canceled the meet shortly after it started. He also hit a season-best 145 in the discus and 53-6 in the shot put in a dual meet against Southern last week.

He says he has abandoned the South African half-spin delivery in the discus for a full spin. In the shot put, he throws off the glide technique, not the spin.

“The spin is much more complicated because there are so many more things involved. It really is geared to certain types of guys.”

Mahler was the No. 2 seed in the discus at the county meet last spring but he did not place among the top six.

“My form and everything was off at the time and I fouled a few times. I had a bad day,” he said. “I had balance problems and was in a slump that I couldn’t get out of. Last year my technique was so bad.”

The common thread that is a key in all three events, says Mahler, is footwork.

“Last year, form was an important thing for me and this year, all three [events] are coming together good,” he said. “As long as my form and feet are right, I can get my muscle in and get it out there in the shot and discus.”

Certainly, it could make for an eventful day for Mahler, who hopes to continue his track and field career at the University of Delaware, where he has committed to a football scholarship.