So driven to accomplish his ultimate goal, Tommy Flud isn't ready to feel satisfied with his most recent achievement throwing the javelin. Hopefully, that enjoyment will occur this weekend.

Tommy Flud displays the gold medal he won throwing the javelin at the District One Championships.

            Still, the Upper Perkiomen senior will appreciate his gold medal performance last weekend at the District One Class 3A Championships. It's only one of a handful of competitions Flud had yet to win.

            "Being a district champion is pretty cool," he said.

            However, Flud said he won't relax until he wins at this weekend's PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University. He described a state gold medal as the ultimate goal for any high school athlete. 

"Things are looking really good," Flud said. "As the season has gone on, I have gotten much better."

            He dominated the field at the meet on Saturday, May 20 at Coatesville High School with a throw of 195 feet, 10 inches. Flud, who defeated his closest opponent by more than 18 feet, clinched his first district gold medal on the first of his six tosses.

            Flud's initial throw of 189 feet, 9 inches, exceeded the final distance of Elias Chase -- the silver medalist from Avon Grove (178 feet, 5 inches) -- by more than 12 feet. Everyone watching the event knew the Pennsburg native wouldn't be challenged for the gold, according to head coach Clayton Mowrer.

            "You've got to be pleased with winning a district title," Mowrer said. "It's never easy."

            Mowrer described his technique as connected and his throws as under control. 

            Flud never considered not taking his final five throws. "I thought that was best for me," said Flud, who finished third at districts as a sophomore and second last season. "I was having a good day. I felt good."

            Flud said the key to excelling during the postseason is being confident in his own ability. He said his preparation has allowed him to stay calm. "All the hard work has paid off."

            On Saturday morning, Flud will begin his bid for his ultimate goal. Mowrer said he expects his athlete and Drew Mruk, a senior from Wyoming Area High School, to perform best.

Mruk and Flud finished fourth and fifth place, respectively, in the High School Boys' Javelin Throw Championship at the Penn Relays in late April. Mruk -- the defending PIAA Class 2A goal medalist and the 2022 New Balance National Champion -- beat Flud by an inch with a throw of 195 feet, 4 inches.

            Flud hopes to become the Tribe's first state champion javelin thrower since Anthony O'Hara in 1995. He figures a new personal record will be necessary to accomplish it.

            At 202 feet, 4 inches, Flud is less than six feet from the school record set by O'Hara as a senior on his state title-clinching throw (208 feet, 1 inch). Though he isn't gunning for the record, Flud said he would celebrate the accomplishment.

"Setting the record would be awesome," Flud said. "But winning the state title would be the peak."

            Chidike Eruba posted the team's next-best finish at districts in the javelin. The senior came in 10th with a throw of 149 feet, 9 inches.

            "It was great to get Chidike to districts," Mowrer said. "He's been a glue for this team all season as an effective scorer on the track and in the field."

            Grayson Riggins finished 12th in the 110 meter hurdles. The ninth grader -- who posted a time of 15.36 seconds -- is likely to finish the season as the fastest in his class in the event throughout the state, according to the coach.

            "I couldn't be happier with Grayson's performance," Mowrer said. "If he was nervous, he did not show it."

            Vincent Durrant ended up in 13th place in the 400 meter dash. The senior, who owns the school record in the event, posted a time of 49.84 seconds, less than 0.3 seconds off the 8th place time.

            "I could not be happier with Vincent's progression over the last two seasons," Mowrer said.

            Samantha Pedrick finished 15th in the pole vault (10 feet). Morgan O'Hara took 16th place in the javelin with a throw of 102 feet, 8 inches.