William and Mary senior Brandon Heroux (Westfield, N.J.) took second in the javelin championship at the Penn Relays Saturday, in his first meet back from Tommy John surgery last June.  The three-time CAA Champion and defending IC4A champion in the javelin, Heroux threw 71.85 meters (235-8), the third-longest mark in school history and of his career.  He was leading the competition and looking for his second Penn Relays title before being passed on the last throw of the day.

Heroux's effort Saturday not only qualified him for the IC4A Championships in two weeks, but also guaranteed him a spot in the NCAA semifinals at the end of May.  He also went well past the Olympic Trials qualifying standard for Canada, and will be competing to represent his country at the Olympic Games.  To qualify for selection to Team Canada, Heroux must throw over 82m (269-0) once, or over 77m (252-7) twice.

After just one competition in cold and dreary competitions, Heroux already ranks highly on the 2012 performance lists.  In the CAA, he leads all athletes by more than 30 feet, and he currently ranks 11th in the East in the NCAA and 16th nationally.  Among Canadian athletes, Heroux is currently fourth.

Heroux and the rest of the Tribe head to George Mason next weekend, May 4-5, for the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships.  One week later is the IC4A/ECAC Championships at Princeton, and the East Prelims for the NCAA Championships will take place May 25-27, in Jacksonville, Fla.  The top 12 athletes at the Prelims will qualify to go on to Des Moines for the NCAA Finals, June 6-9.

Penn Relays College Javelin Championship
1. Andy Fahringer (UVA) 74.63m (244-10)
2. Brandon Heroux (W&M) 71.85m (235-8)
3. Jason Flanagan (CCU) 71.34m (234-0)
4. Raymond Dykstra (UK) 70.07m (229-10)
5. Vincent DuVernois (MON) 68.77m (225-7)
6. Joshua Suttmeier (USC) 67.03m (219-10)
7. Gary Zack (MORAV) 66.33m (217-7)
8. Jeremy Tuttle (LSU) 65.85m (216-0)
9. Aaron Moore (LSU) 62.33m (204-5)
10. Tim Van Iiew (RUC) 60.77m (199-4)

Top Five Javelin Throws in W&M History
1. Brandon Heroux 73.09m (239-9), 2011 Penn Relays CHAMPION
2. Brandon Heroux 72.39m (237-6), 2011 IC4A Championships CHAMPION
3. Brandon Heroux 71.85m (235-8), 2012 Penn Relays
4. Brandon Heroux 69.86m (229-2), 2011 Mt. SAC Relays
5. Brandon Heroux 69.37m (227-7), 2011 CAA Championships CHAMPION