Welcome
to the home of Klub Keihas. Klub Keihas
was founded in September of 1993 as an organization that would support
and promote the throwing events, especially the javelin. Started
by Jeff Gorski, an assistant track coach at the University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill for 8 years, the club began when former UNC
javelin/discus thrower Sean Murray and Linda Lipson approached Jeff
and asked him to coach them since they had graduated but still wanted
to compete. Gorski had thought of starting a club for years, and
this gave him the perfect opportunity to realize this; he had even
had the name picked out. Keihas is the Finnish word for javelin,
and the great tradition of javelin throwers from Finland, along
with Jeff's love of the event made this a natural choice. Additions
to the ranks grew as the reputation of Klub Keihas was noticed on
a national level - Linda Lipson placed 3rd at USATF Nationals in
the first year, and soon other top level throwers seeked out Jeff
and his club for his coaching ability and support. They included
Marilyn Senz, 1992 Olympic team member; Rob Curtis, 8th all-time
on the US list; Ed Kaminiski, member of the 1995 and 1997 US team
at the World Championships; Delyle Woods, US Jr. record holder;
Brian Kollar, 1998 High School National Champion and American High
School record holder. Additions to this list include Rob Austin,
1995 and 1996 Division 1 All American and 1995 Big Ten Champion;
Catherine Betz, 3 time Louisiana State Champion; Leigh Smith, 1999
NSO Champion and his brother Andy, a nationally ranked age group
thrower, as well as Jeff's daughters, Ashlee, the top High School
freshmen discus thrower in North Carolina and Michelle, who has
thrown the javelin for fun for 5 years and now enters competition
for the first time. As you can tell by this list of athletes, Klub
Keihas provides opportunities for throwers of all levels from Jr.
Olympics to Olympic Games and World Championships. This February,
Jeff was selected as Chairman of Men's Javelin Development for USATF,
and has coached Tom Pukstys since June, 1996 (6 American Records
Ago!!) as well as Mark Fletcher, ranked 4th in the United States
last year.
The
goal of Klub Keihas is simple; to support the development of excellent
throwers of all ages in an environment that fosters positive results
and a feeling of self-worth. Future goals include an annual Throws
Festival, modeled after the Javelin Carnival in Finland; a private
training facility open to THROWERS ONLY; and Klub Keihas International,
which will do for throwers what the VISA Decathlon program did for
multi-eventers. We want to educate coaches and athletes into the
technique and safety of our sport, and expand the number of states
that offer the javelin in their High School competitions. We want
to find and develop the talent in states that don't throw the javelin
(both Tom Pukstys and Tom Petranoff came from states that didn't
offer the javelin in High School, as did Lance Deal, who came out
of Montana, which does not throw the hammer) and give them the chance
to enhance their throwing ability, as well as the opportunity for
college education because of the benefits that arise from athletic
participation.
Javelin
Performance Prediction Test
Welcome
to the home of Klub Keihas. Klub Keihas
was founded in September of 1993 as an organization that would support
and promote the throwing events, especially the javelin. Started
by Jeff Gorski, an assistant track coach at the University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill for 8 years, the club began when former UNC
javelin/discus thrower Sean Murray and Linda Lipson approached Jeff
and asked him to coach them since they had graduated but still wanted
to compete. Gorski had thought of starting a club for years, and
this gave him the perfect opportunity to realize this; he had even
had the name picked out. Keihas is the Finnish word for javelin,
and the great tradition of javelin throwers from Finland, along
with Jeff's love of the event made this a natural choice. Additions
to the ranks grew as the reputation of Klub Keihas was noticed on
a national level - Linda Lipson placed 3rd at USATF Nationals in
the first year, and soon other top level throwers seeked out Jeff
and his club for his coaching ability and support. They included
Marilyn Senz, 1992 Olympic team member; Rob Curtis, 8th all-time
on the US list; Ed Kaminiski, member of the 1995 and 1997 US team
at the World Championships; Delyle Woods, US Jr. record holder;
Brian Kollar, 1998 High School National Champion and American High
School record holder. Additions to this list include Rob Austin,
1995 and 1996 Division 1 All American and 1995 Big Ten Champion;
Catherine Betz, 3 time Louisiana State Champion; Leigh Smith, 1999
NSO Champion and his brother Andy, a nationally ranked age group
thrower, as well as Jeff's daughters, Ashlee, the top High School
freshmen discus thrower in North Carolina and Michelle, who has
thrown the javelin for fun for 5 years and now enters competition
for the first time. As you can tell by this list of athletes, Klub
Keihas provides opportunities for throwers of all levels from Jr.
Olympics to Olympic Games and World Championships. This February,
Jeff was selected as Chairman of Men's Javelin Development for USATF,
and has coached Tom Pukstys since June, 1996 (6 American Records
Ago!!) as well as Mark Fletcher, ranked 4th in the United States
last year.