It is a cool, overcast December afternoon as Paulo Sandoval approaches the runway. Full speed ahead he goes, before gently slowing down and heaving another javelin toward the 50-yard line. One down, another 20 to 25 more throws to go, and it is just another typical Thursday afternoon at the Azusa Pacific track.
Under the watchful eye of Azusa Pacific women’s track and field coach Mike Barnett ’97, M.Ed. ’01, who offers his anecdotal wisdom and aged experience, Sandoval takes it all in with a willing smile and an eagerness for the next toss. Sandoval is an elite javelin thrower for his age, and he has the potential to etch his name among the Cougar track and field greats, joining the likes of Dave Johnson ’86, M.A. ’02; Christian Okoye ’87; the Ezinwa twins (Osmond ’94 and Davidson ’94); and Bryan Clay ’03. However, that must wait until 2012, because Sandoval is still in eighth grade.
After taking in Barnett’s words of constructive criticism and coaching tweaks on the previous hurl, the Azusa resident retreats to his starting point, takes a deep breath, and proceeds once more.
Just four months shy of his 14th birthday, Sandoval has found a new home – Cougar Athletic Stadium. He has found a new mentor in Barnett. And he has found a new member of his already tight-knit Azusa family in the Cougars’ nationally renowned track and field team. For the past year, Sandoval has headed to the Cougars’ track every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, rarely missing a day, to train with the best. After all, he is one of the best.
Last August, at 13, Sandoval finished fourth in the javelin in his age group (13-14) at the U.S. Junior National Championships in Baltimore, Maryland. The three that finished ahead of him were all 14-year-olds. However, Sandoval is quick to point out that there was only one reason he was able to throw as well as he did.
“To know that [Barnett] is coaching me and he’s been to the Olympics is pretty cool,” said Sandoval. “I look up to him as my role model. He called me at last year’s championships and told me that he was in my shoes once, competing against older, bigger, and stronger guys. He told me to relax and just throw it as far as I could.”
Barnett and Sandoval first met in November 2005, when Sandoval was in seventh grade at Center Middle School in Azusa. His elementary track coach Adrian Acosta, who started Sandoval throwing the turbo javelin, found Barnett after searching the Azusa Pacific website. He had been looking for someone to give Sandoval some high-level, personal attention, and thought Barnett would be just the man for the job.Once he responded and met Sandoval, it was a perfect match.
“As a university, we place a high importance on mentorship and that was the initial reason why I started this relationship,” said Barnett. “I thought it was a great idea and an opportunity to give back to the community.”
