It turned out to be an exciting Friday for Connellsville junior Madison Wiltrout.
Not only did she return to action for the first time since winning a gold medal in the javelin at the 2015 PIAA Class AAA championships May 22, Nick Brown surprised her with flowers and an invite to the prom.
Wiltrout set a PIAA meet record in winning the javelin last year on her first throw. But on her second throw, she injured her right elbow, which required surgery June 30 to replace her ulnar collateral ligament.
She went from euphoria after breaking the state meet record to a low because of the injury.
“It was disappointing because I felt I could have thrown better,” Wiltrout said. “Then on the second throw, a series of breakdowns (dropping the elbow, rushing and bad plant) caused the injury.”
Wiltrout spent three months with her right arm immobilized and then another two months in a brace. She then started a weight training program for three months.
When she was able to throw a tennis ball for the first time, she cried.
“I didn't know what it would feel like, and I was nervous,” Wiltrout said. “I cried because I was relieved I could do it.”
She also threw a baseball and a Finn Flyer (smaller javelin) during her training.
For the past two months, Wiltrout has been working on proper technique and training.
After getting cleared to throw by Dr. Mark Baratz on Wednesday, she competed at the 25th annual Lady Spartan/14th annual Wildcat Invitational on Friday at Latrobe.
She took one throw so she could qualify for the WPIAL qualifier next month at Norwin.
The two-time PIAA champion is hoping to become a three-time WPIAL and PIAA champion. But her ultimate goal comes in July when she will attempt to make the U.S. Olympic team in Eugene, Ore.
“I was anxious to get it over with and qualify,” said Wiltrout, who threw 148 feet, 5 inches to win the event and qualify. “I'm going to continue my training for the next month and then go to the qualifier.
“It was a relief just to get back out there. Now I can take the next four weeks to prepare for WPIALs and PIAAs. I'd love to qualify for Rio, but I think the Olympic qualifier will be special.”
Wiltrout admittedly held back from cutting it loose. She said she concentrated on proper form and technique.
She surprised herself when she threw 185-8 at the WPIAL qualifier a year ago at Norwin. Her winning state meet throw was 182-8.
She's been following the training regiment set up by Dr. Baratz and her javelin coach Bill Schmidt, who lives in Tennessee.
Schmidt became more involved in her Olympic training after she made the huge jump in distances last year.
“The injury turned out to be a learning experience,” Wiltrout said. “My technique needed to improve, and I've been working hard on improving it.”
It was a pretty good day for two of the top boys javelin throwers in the WPIAL.
North Allegheny's Andrew Manz set a meet and stadium record with a throw of 207-4, and Hempfield junior Hayden Fox, who placed second, bettered his school record with a throw of 196-3.
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
