HIGHLAND PARK, NJ – Two local standouts, Highland Park senior Markos Hantsoulis and Edison junior Landen Cruz, delivered exceptional javelin performances at the New Balance Nationals. Hantsoulis clinched the national title with a throw of 203′ 3.75″ while Cruz finished in second-place with a of 202′ 9″. Both athletes showcased their ability to perform under pressure, unleashing their best throws in the final rounds to earn New Balance All American honors.
Hantsoulis, a familiar name in New Jersey track and field, captured the New Balance Nationals javelin title with a massive 203-foot, 3-inch throw on his fifth attempt. This season-best toss came at the perfect moment, elevating him from third place to the top of the podium.
“It’s crazy that I got to win this,” Hantsoulis exclaimed. “Last year, I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to, but this year I definitely made up for it.” His victory marks a significant improvement from his 14th-place finish (181-2) at last year’s New Balance Nationals.
Interestingly, javelin isn’t Hantsoulis’s primary sport; he’s committed to playing quarterback at William Paterson in college. His coaches initially recruited him for track during his sophomore year, hoping his powerful football throws would translate to the javelin runway—a decision that clearly paid off.
Hantsoulis has since become a two-time medalist at the Meet of Champions and finished as the state runner-up this spring. Reflecting on his winning throw, he shared, “I was excited. I was happy because I’ve only hit that mark once, and that was towards the beginning of the season. I knew I had (another) 200-foot throw in me. Now that I hit again, it’s just very exciting.”
He added, “My coach always said that in track and field, it could be anybody’s day at any point. Anybody could have a good day. Anybody could take the win. And I guess I just had a really good day today.”
Edison junior Landen Cruz also came through in the clutch, finishing second with an impressive throw of 202-9 on his fifth attempt. This remarkable achievement follows his gold medal win at the Meet of Champions earlier this month with a throw of 198′ 8″ beating Hantsoulis with a throw of 184′.
What makes Cruz’s success even more astonishing is his limited experience with the sport; just a few months ago, he had never even picked up a javelin. Since his first practice on April 23, his progress has been nothing short of meteoric.
He quickly transformed into a First-Team All-State selection, a state champion, and now, an All-American. “It’s an amazing feeling to be an All-American,” Cruz stated. “But like all things, it took time. It took patience. It took a lot of practice that nobody was there to see and I’m very grateful for all my coaches that helped me get to where I am today.”
These exceptional performances by Hantsoulis and Cruz at the New Balance Nationals not only highlight their individual talent but also the strength of the javelin programs at their respective high schools. Their dedication and clutch throws are sure to inspire aspiring athletes across New Jersey, and particularly shine a spotlight on the growing prominence of track and field within Middlesex County.
