Return to Pointer View home page June 18, 2004

Burke earns second All-America honor in javelin

By Todd Merriett
Army Athletic Media Relations

AUSTIN, Texas – Second Lt. Adam Burke concluded an outstanding season with his second consecutive All-America honor in the javelin Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, placing 11th overall and eighth among Americans in the javelin. He is the seventh Army track and field athlete to be named All-America twice.

Burke, a 2003 All-American in the javelin, advanced to Saturday’s finals with a career-best throw of 236 feet, 4 inches to finish fourth in the prelims, but fell short of that mark with a toss of 223-9 in the finals. However, the Washington, N.J., native was still able to earn All-America accolades as the eighth-best American in the javelin field.

In being named an All-American for the second straight season, Burke becomes the first Black Knight to accomplish that feat since distance runner Dan Browne in 1996 and 1997. Curt Alitz, who has five All-America citations to his credit, is the only member of Army’s men’s track and field team to be named an All-American more than twice.

Burke, who has nine throws of at least 220 feet this season, ranks fifth on Army’s all-time javelin list with his throw of 236-4 June 10. That distance was the longest by a Black Knight since 1980. He is the only thrower in Army history to be named All-America in the javelin.

Gabriel Wallin of Boise State had a winning toss of 264-9.

Despite closing out his NCAA season, Burke’s career is not complete yet. He is scheduled to compete at the United States Olympic Trials, July 9-18, in  Sacramento, Calif. he javelin prelims are slated for Thursday, July 15.