You have to be strong to throw a javelin, but also quick like a cat.

The toss itself, which involves hurling a metal tipped spear as far as possible, isn’t as easy at it looks. The technique requires a four-phase sequence that begins with the proper approach, a five-step rhythm, throw and recovery.

Without a good understanding of this processes and techique of this movement, any high schooler thrower might as well be throwing into a hurricane.

Emmaus’s Tristan Schmidt has shown beyond any reasonable doubt that with a javelin in hand, he is a superman.

Last Wednesday, at the District 11 Class 3A Track and Field Championships at Blue Mountain High School, Schmidt punched his ticket to the PIAA meet at Shippensburg University by finishing second in javelin with a 193-8 mark.

“I’m disappointed because I wanted to throw over 200 and get the school record,” Schmidt said after accepting his medal. “But 190 isn’t terrible, so I’m satisfied I’d say.”

Schmidt praised Emmaus track and field coach Kami Reinhard.

“She’s been awesome. I’ve known her since elementary school when I was doing distance running,” he said. “I still do some distance running, but I’ve been focusing on throws and I’ve found something that I’m even better at than running.”

Schmidt will not make the Shippensburg trip May 29 alone. Hornet teammate Aiden Hurlburt earned district gold in the pole vault. The sophomore won the competition with a 13-foot, 6-inch mark, nearly one foot better than Jim Thorpe’s Aiden Clements.

Other Emmaus boys track and field competitors included Jarrett Lysek, who claimed seventh in the 400-meter dash, along with Geoffrey Kleinberg who finished 14th. Matthew Norton took 14th in the 800 and Oscar Felegy finished 20th. In the 1600, Ethan Strzempek claimed 14th place, while Nic Buonanno earned a 10th-place finish in the 3200. In the 300-meter hurdles, Kyle Ryan finished eight, while Hornet teammate Alex Harmon took 14th.

The Emmaus boys relay teams also had a presence. In the 4-by-100, the foursome of Matthew Bruchak, Colin Byrne, Gabe Trexler and Dougherty earned a fifth-place finish. In the 4-by-400, Shep Henseler, Dylan Bassett, Lysek and Kleinberg took ninth, while in the 4-by-800, Matthew Norton, Felegy, Schmidt and Kleinberg claimed fifth.

Luke Rautzhan earned sixth in the pole vault, Henseler claimed 12th in the long jump and Davonte Hinds took 14th place in the shot put.