Havering coach hails Max power

Havering Max Law with coach Sam Harrison (Image: Archant)

Havering coach Sam Harrison has hailed the progress of Max Law, after the youngster’s world-leading javelin throw earlier this month.

Law threw 49.84 metres at the club championships, breaking his own record by more than three metres with the second-best ever throw by an under-13 boy in the UK.

And the Hall Mead pupil is looking to break the magical 50-metre mark in his final outing of the season at Biggleswade tomorrow (Saturday).

A delighted Harrison said: “To put his performance into context, it is currently the world leading throw for an under-13 boy based on the available results.

“Max has moved to the number two spot on the UK all-time list behind a lad called Oliver Bradfield, who was over six foot tall when he was 12 compared to Max who is about five foot five.”

Law is currently more than six metres ahead of his age group rivals in Britain and has been unbeaten in under-13 javelin competitions since April 2013, when he was still just 10.

He took up the event aged nine and according to Harrison had a ‘naturally good technique’ from the start.

Harrison added: “He was able to compete in a few competitions as an under-11 and managed to throw 22 metres while still nine years old.”

Law moves up to the under-15 category next season, when he will use a heavier implement, but he has already experimented with it and Harrison feels he can adapt easily enough.

“Max threw 41.60m with the next weight javelin and I know for a fact he could have thrown it much further. I’ve seen him throw it over 45 metres,” he said.

“I strongly predict he will easily qualify for the English Schools in 2015 and will be easily over the 50-metre line in his first season.

“There is a good possibility he will go on to break Bonne Buwembo’s under-15 club record of 57.78m by the time he has left the age group and we all know how good Bonne was.”

Despite those bold claims, Harrison is also trying to keep his – and Law’s – feet firmly on the ground with regards to his potential.

And he is only too aware of the pitfalls that can set young athletes back as they chase honours.

He added: “I don’t want to go over the top. We’ve all been there and watched as prospects fall by the wayside. Having said that, his natural ability makes it easy to coach him. “It is important I keep his technique in check to avoid injuries through his growth years and he is aware of this. What I’m hoping is that he will be as tall as his brother Alex.

“If he does reach those heights, and coupled with a controlled development in the event, there is no reason he couldn’t go on to some very great things.

“Usually big performances in the throws at this young age are attributed to ‘big lads throwing small implements’. With Max this just isn’t the case.”