WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Rutgers All-American Chris Mirabelli shines at Ed Boitano Invitational...

The javelin competition at the Ed Boitano Invitational, hosted by the University of Puget Sound at Baker Stadium Saturday never seems to fail as the best event of the meet, as those athletes have generally been cooped up during the indoor season while their teammates compete indoors.

However, the mark in the men's javelin came from an unexpected source, as former Rutgers All-American Chris Mirabelli (above/photo by Paul Merca) threw a very early US leading mark of 239-7 (73.02m) to win the competition.

Competing against a field of Division II and III athletes, Mirabelli, a three-time Big 10 champ for the Scarlet Knights and a four-time NCAA championships competitor, had four throws of better that 72 meters (236-3) in his series, including his best in round 4. The mark is currently the best throw by an American so far in this young 2020 outdoor season.

Costel David (187-8/57.20m) and Mason Salley (177-7/54.13m) of Western Washington finished second and third.

Mirabelli told paulmerca.blogspot.com afterwards that he recently moved into Washington from New Jersey, and is living in the Tacoma area, while his girlfriend, Casey Murphy, continues her career as a professional soccer player for OL Reign (formerly FC Reign) in Tacoma.

Mirabelli, who has a personal best of 251-6 (76.67m) set at the Penn Relays in 2017, was redshirted in the 2018 season after suffering a torn labrum and a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder that required experimental surgery.

Additionally, doctors at Rutgers discovered a dilated aortic root, which put him at risk for an aneurysm. The school had no choice but to shut him down, and barred him from using the athletic facilities.

“It was as low as I’ve been,” Mirabelli said. “During that period is when I learned the most about myself.”

Western Washington senior Amanda Short and junior Hannah Nienaber also placed 1-2 in the women's javelin. Short had a top throw of 149-6 (45.38m) and Nienaber was at 144-4 (44.00). It's the second and third best throws in Division II so far this season.

The other outstanding mark of the meet came in Friday's hammer competition, as Western's Avery Lux threw 188-11 (57.60m) to take the win. It's currently the third best mark in Division II so far this season.

2016 Olympic Trials competitor Dakarai Hightower opened his outdoor campaign by winning at 6-8.75 (2.05m) in wet conditions.

Complete results of the Ed Boitano Invitational are available here.

NOTE: The sports information departments of Rutgers University, University of Puget Sound, and Western Washington University contributed to this report.