Tom Sinclair
Tom Sinclair was the 1979 NCAA Division I national champion for the javelin throw. He competed for the University of Washington. At Washington, Sinclair was a multi-year All-American. Tom Sinclair also holds the Washington state high school record for the javelin throw at 239-1.
After a second-place finish at Pac-10s, and fourth at the NCAA Championships during his junior year, in Sinclair's senior season he was the Pac-10 champion and went on to win the 1979 NCAA championship with a throw of 261-3, which, at the time, was the University of Illinois stadium record.
Tom Sinclair set the Washington state javelin record in 1975, competing for the Peninsula High School Seahawks, in a dual meet against Curtis High School. The record still stands due to rule changes that altered the quality of the javelin' s flight to prevent the implement from traveling as far. Despite the javelin change, Sinclair's over 30-year-old record is still impressive. It remains one of the nation's oldest high school track and field records.
Sinclair's javelin throwing career was cut short after his time at Washington due to a rotator cuff injury, suffered during his final series at the 1979 NCAA National Championships. While he competed that summer at the World University Games, his injury compromised his ability to throw, and he retired from competition in August 1979.
He now lives in Kirkland, Washington, and is a financial planner. He has two sons, Craig and Brian. Tom has recently returned to track and field, sharing his expertise with the javelin throwers at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington.
