WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Former Monmouth University track & field All-American throwers Bobby Smith and Jon Kalnas, and senior Blue and White standout Larry Lundy (Friendsville, Pa./Montrose Area), are all currently ranked in the U.S. in javelin and shot put, as recent national and world ranking were announced in the March issue of Track & Field News. Smith, who took home the U.S. National Javelin Title at the 2008 Olympic Trials, currently ranks eighth overall in javelin while Kalnas and Lundy have both been added to the U.S. rankings in shot put.
Smith's throw of 247' 4" in javelin leapfrogged him into an eighth place ranking in the United States. Kalnas' best toss of 65' 4" landed him on the U.S. additions list while Lundy also landed on the listing with his 60' 10.75" season-best throw.
Smith continued the tradition of Monmouth All-Americans in the throwing events when he claimed the honor in javelin in 2005. At the NCAA's, Smith unleashed a school-record toss of 229' 7" to best his own school record by six feet and earn him a fifth place finish. The All-America performance wrapped a banner 2005 for Smith, who claimed the NEC title in the javelin, as well as becoming only the second athlete in school history to win an Eastern Championship, claiming the IC4A javelin title.
The former standout Hawk currently trains at the US Olympic Center in Chula Vista, Ca. in hopes of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
Jon Kalnas holds the distinction of being Monmouth's only multiple All-American, earning the honor in the shot put for the 2000 and 2001 indoor seasons and the 2002 outdoor season. He took fourth place at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championship with his throw of 68' 8 1/4", while taking home fifth place at the 2002 Indoor Championship. The six time Northeast Conference shot put champion owns the top-five distances in school history for the indoor and outdoor shot put. He also captured the NEC title in the discus and was a eight-time All-East performer and three-time IC4A Champion. Most recently, Kalnas competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Lundy enters his final outdoor season looking to improve on his already U.S. qualifying marks in shot put. The three time All-NEC and All-East honoree placed 11th overall with his toss of 57' 4 ¾" at NCAA East Regionals last season and ended the season with a trip to the NCAA Championships in shot put as one of six MU athletes to participate in the event.
Lundy and the 2010 MU track and field teams will open up the outdoor season on Friday and Saturday March 26-27 as the Hawks host the 15th Annual Monmouth Season Opener on the E. Murray Todd Track at Kessler Field. Friday's weight throwing event starts at 2:00 p.m. while all other events start on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
