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The Dartmouth
July 17, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Alum to throw at Championships

Sean Furey '04 Th '05 qualified to compete at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics with a 249'10

The World Championships in Athletics, which begin Saturday in Berlin, are held every two years and feature athletes from all over the world.

Furey excelled as a member of the track and field team while at Dartmouth. He holds the record for the javelin throw at 242'2" and was named an All-American, according to the Dartmouth athletics web site.

In 2005, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association also named him the Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year. That same year, Furey won the javelin at the Ivy League/Heptagonal Championships by more than 20 feet and graduated with a 3.80 grade point average.

Furey has made progress as a thrower since his time at Dartmouth. While his College record stands at 242'2", his toss at the U.S. Championships was 249'10".

If he hopes to take home the gold at the World Championships, though, Furey will need to improve on his 249'10" mark. The winner at the U.S. Championships, Chris Hill, threw for 275'02".

The current World Championships record in the javelin throw is 304'05", set by Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic in 2001.

Furey said he learned valuable lessons while a member of the Dartmouth track and field team.

"Coach Carl Wallin taught me a lot at Dartmouth, especially about how to compete at big meets and how to prepare," Furey said in an e-mail message to The Dartmouth. "He taught me that when you go into big meets your focus should be to just do what got you there' and everything will work out." Elaborating on that lesson, Furey said an athlete could best set himself or herself up for success by focusing on executing what he or she is capable of, instead of trying to perform something "outside of yourself."

Wallin, who retired following the 2008-2009 season, was not available for comment by press time.

Since graduating, Furey has devoted himself to training, he said.

He said he is looking forward to the World Championships and believes he has prepared himself well.

"I am feeling great in my training leading up to the World Championships," he said. "I know that the work that will impact how I do was done many months ago and the most important thing is being mentally sharp and confident going into the competition."

Furey compared his upcoming World Championships performance to a large present sitting under a Christmas tree.

"I know that it has something great in it, but if I shake it too many times before Christmas morning to try to get an idea of what's inside, it will be broken by the time I open it," Furey wrote. "So I am confident enough to wait until Aug. 21st at 5 p.m. Berlin time to start the unwrapping process."

In the weeks since the U.S. Championships, Furey has continued to fine-tune his skills for the World Championships.

He traveled to Europe, where, according to the Dartmouth athletics web site, he competed in a three meets, winning two of them and placing fourth in the third.

The World Championships, which Furey called "the biggest stage there is, other than the Olympics," will take place Aug. 15 to 23.