South Shelby’s Bowen saves best for last in winning Class 2 javelin state championship

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Twice, Gabe Bowen found himself in an all-or-nothing situation.

Twice, his all carried him to the top.

The South Shelby junior scratched on his first two attempts in the javelin at Saturday’s Class 2 state track and field championships, but he landed a quality throw on this third attempt to advance to the finals. There, he scratched on his first two attempts again.

“All the scratches were really good throws,” Bowen said. “I just barely made it over the line every time.”

The third time was indeed the charm.

Bowen unleashed a toss of 173 feet, 4 inches, edging Adrian’s Bryson Jacobs by 7 inches to win the state championship. When he saw his distance posted, reality hit.

“It was amazing,” Bowen said. “I knew I was No. 1, and it was just amazing.”

It was a comeback for the ages.

As a sophomore, Bowen suffered a torn ACL during the football season, and although he returned by the spring to participate in track and field, he wasn’t able to throw the way he wanted. Last fall, he helped the Cardinals enjoy a remarkable football season while staying healthy, which led to this moment.

“To go from barely being able to throw to being a state champion, it’s just amazing,” Bowen said. “I’m just speechless about it. I don’t know what to say.”

The moxie he showed in his recovery played out on the track.

Bowen was the only thrower in the field to scratch on his first two attempts in the preliminaries, but he stuck a throw of 157 feet, 5 inches, which had him in sixth place going to the finals.Three of the competitors in front him improved their distances in the finals, while he was left with one final throw.

“I tried to stay as loose as I could and throw it as far as I can,” Bowen said. “And not scratch.”

Not only did he not scratch, Bowen knew his final attempt was big.

“It felt amazing,” he said. “I knew it was a really good throw right when I threw it.”

He is South Shelby’s first state champion since Brock Wood won three events in 2019 and just the fifth Cardinals individual athlete to win a state crown, according to Missouri State High School Activities Association record books.