Sunday, June 11, 2000

ACU javelin thrower battles loss on road to the Olympics
By Ted Dunnam
Reporter-News Staff Writer

What should have been the most promising year of Geraldine George’s life has evolved into a difficult trial and a test of her strong Christian faith.

The Abilene Christian University senior is almost a sure bet to land a spot on the Olympic team for her native country, Trinidad and Tobago, but she’s not even sure she’ll be able to return to her homeland for the Olympic trials that begin Thursday.

Geraldine’s mother, Monica, passed away Feb. 8 and just three days later her aunt died.

“When I saw my mother in December, I got a strong feeling that was the last time I would see her,’’ Geraldine said. “This semester has been very, very difficult for me because my mother was my sole bread-winner.

“I still need about $400 to be able to go home, and I’ve been praying for those sponsors. My friends and co-workers have been very supportive.’’

George, 28, is her country’s top-ranked javelin thrower, and won the event at the NCAA Division II outdoor meet recently with a throw of 165 feet, four inches. She also won the Lone Star Conference meet this year in the shot put and javelin, and accomplished that same feat at the Texas Relays.

Prior to coming to ACU, she was a two-time junior college national champion in the javelin at Ricks College in Idaho.

Although she has been enormously successful this semester, George has found it painful to compete.

“My mother died of a silent heart attack. She was very healthy, so it was a major shock,’’ George said. “But the last time I talked to her, she was very satisfied, she felt very complete. My mother was a person who made a difference in everybody’s life, and I know she died a very happy person.

“We were very, very close and that’s why it is so difficult to get up and go to class. But I tell myself that my brothers and sisters are still alive, and we all need each other. My faith in the Lord has really helped me.’’

George’s career best throw in the javelin is 177 feet, six inches. She needs to throw 185 feet to meet the Olympic standard, but even if she fails to do that, all is not lost.

“If I don’t make that, I can still be on the team if I am the best in my country,’’ George said. “I hope to throw close to 200 feet. I improved from 165 to 177 so I believe I can throw 200.

“Sure I can do it. Once the Lord is on my side, anything is possible.’’

George, who has been training three days a week in preparation for the Olympic trials, never envisioned becoming a javelin thrower. It was something that just fell in her lap one day as an eight-year-old kid.

“Our school needed four points to win a meet and my coach came up to me and asked me to throw the javelin to give us a chance to win,’’ George said. “I told him I didn’t know how to throw it, but he told me it didn’t matter.

“So I threw it and I won and we got six points. So I’ve been throwing it for 20 years now. Coach (Jon) Murray (ACU track coach) can’t believe I used to be a sprinter. I ran the 100, 200, 400 and the relays.’’

George is one of three ACU hopefuls from Trinidad trying to land berths on their country’s Olympic squad. The other two are Wildcat sprinters Nic Alexander and Julian Raeburn.

“It’s different in Trinidad. Once I make the team, then they pick who they want to go to the Olympics,’’ George said. “Money is a very big factor.’’

Although she has broken many school records, George said that has never been high on her priority list.

“It’s nice, yes, to win and break records,’’ she said. “But for me, I just want to reach my goals. I have goals posted in the bathroom, on the door, in the kitchen, everywhere so I can see them all the time.

“Winning, of course, is nice, but my goal is to do my best and I will be satisfied with that.’’

George says she often hears her mother speak to her, giving encouragement.

“The Lord is always there to help me, too. I have lost my mother, but Jesus tells me you have to find something to replace that,’’ George said. “He keeps telling me that all the time. Throwing the javelin is what keeps me going.

“I know I’m the best, and I know I’m going to make that Olympic team because the Lord has told me that I’m going to. And if I don’t make it, well thank you Jesus, anyway.’’

Ted Dunnam can be reached at 676-6771 or dunnamt@abinews.com.