Flat on His Face

The muscular little (5 ft. 7 1/2 in., 163 Ibs.) marine lieutenant made his 35-yd. approach in short, quick strides, hit a check mark with his left foot, took two forward cross steps, launched his javelin, then dove flat on his face in his own special version of a follow-through. His head just five inches short of the foul line, he watched the trajectory of the slim spear. It thudded into the ground 282 ft. 3 1/2 in. away. At the age of 28, when many javelin men have left their best throws behind them, 1st Lieut. Alfred A. Cantello of Norristown, Pa. was suddenly famous. Before a virtually empty stand at California's Compton Invitational, he had set a new world record.

Marine Cantello, based at Quantico, Va.. had never done better than 264 ft. 10 in. in competition before. A good javelin thrower at Philadelphia's LaSalle College, he practiced at every opportunity in his four years of service. Cantello was due to be mustered out of the corps three months ago, but requested that his term of service be extended to July so he could benefit from marine discipline and stay in shape.

Driving to the meet at Compton last week, Cantello got lost, arrived late, had "the sparsest warmup I ever had." As to his future javelin plans: "I did it once. Why not again?"

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