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Record is sticking point with Roberts Javelin thrower's mark best in state By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ROGUE RIVER -- Rogue River High assistant track and field coach Floyd Graves has played a significant role in the development of the Chieftains' state-leading javelin thrower, Tony Roberts. Graves, an assistant under Ron Graham, is more than just Roberts' event coach. He's a friend, a source of inspiration, a father figure and Roberts' official guardian. "He's made a big difference in everything I've done in my life during the last two years," says Roberts. He and Graves declined to discuss how the guardianship came about. Roberts will be shooting to break the Rogue River school record in the javelin Saturday during the Skyline Conference championships at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. The two-day meet opens at 10 a.m. today at OIT. Roberts, 17, is the Class 3A leader with a season-best throw of 203 feet, 5 inches. He hit that mark two weeks ago in a meet at Mazama High. His mark is better than any by a Class 4A thrower as well. Roberts followed up with a throw of 199-9 in windy conditions at Phoenix last week. "I'm ready for another big one (throw)," says Roberts, who made a major breakthrough three weeks ago in the Grants Pass Rotary meet with a throw of 200-4. "I've fixed some fundamental things in my release, and that turned things around. "Now, I have a lot of confidence. Floyd deserves a lot of the credit for that. We talk about technique and other things in the car on the way home from practice or on the way to school." A hands-off approach may actually have been the catalyst to improved marks. "I try to let him make most of his decisions because he usually makes good ones," says Graves. "He really started popping them (throws) when I backed away from him a little bit and tried to let him do his own thing. "I was trying to get him to turn his hips into his throws better, and he was kind of forcing it." Graves, thinking 180 feet would be a good mark at the Grants Pass meet, was startled when Roberts ripped off his big one. "Since then, he's a different kid," says Graves. "He's working harder, and he can see even better marks coming." Suddenly, the University of Oregon is interested in recruiting the Chiefs' junior after his name soared to the top in state-best lists for Class 3A and 4A. "I'd like to go to a big college on a scholarship, but I know I have to keep my grades up and keep working hard," says Roberts. Roberts began living with Graves nearly two years ago. "He stays on me about doing my schoolwork and keeping up," says Roberts. "I used to let that go. Since I've lived with him, my (grade-point average) has come up from about 2.5 to 4.0 and my accumulative average is over 3.0 now. Things are going a lot better, and he deserves a lot of the credit." Graves says Roberts is like one of his own children. "I had a daughter who ran hurdles for me, and I treat Tony about the same way I did her," says Graves. "I care about him and I want him to succeed. I'll have to admit he's special to me out there on the track, but so are most of our other kids to me." Roberts, who is seeded No. 1 in the javelin in the Skyline Conference meet, has an edge of nearly 29 feet over second-seeded Tyler Cox of Henley. Roberts is within 5 feet of the Rogue River school record of 208-1. "Three weeks ago, I wasn't even in the top 10 in the school's Track Hall of Fame," says Roberts. "Now, I'm close to the school record. It's a matter of time, I think, but I'd like to break it either this week in the district meet or next week at state." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.