Ask Iowa State’s Matt Murdock about throwing the javelin, and he’ll tell you the metal spear doesn’t always hit its mark.

“I once threw a javelin through a buddy’s car because he didn’t think I would do it,” Murdock said. “And once in high school throwing practice, a javelin came down and hit a Canadian gopher.”

But when the freshman from Kingston, Ontario, isn’t horsing around, he’s been known to be competitive in collegiate competition. In his first meet earlier this month, he won the event at the Clemson Invitational track and field meet with a toss of 231 feet, 8 inches.

Murdock, who started throwing the javelin when he was 17, said he’s got bigger goals in mind.

“It was not my best,” Murdock said. “There is still some work to go to achieve a better distance.”

ISU track and field throwing coach Dan O’Mara said the key to a longer javelin throw isn’t just putting more force behind it.

“There are some certain steps that are similar to a baseball or football throw,” he said. “You do not use your whole body though.”

Murdock, who has practiced the technique since his first javelin throw three years ago, has his own pattern for success.

“There are certain standard techniques when you throw the javelin,” Murdock said. “You take a fast 12 to 13 steps and then a sudden stop, like hitting a brick wall. It is like a stretch reflex.”

With the beginning of the outdoor track and field season, Murdock has set some high expectations for himself.

“One of my main goals this year is to throw the javelin 80 meters,” Murdock said. “Also, while at Iowa State, I would like to become an All-American either this year or next and become a national champion.”

O’Mara also has expectations for Murdock.

“I think that this year Matt could possibly get a top three finish in the Big 12 conference tournament,” O’Mara said. “If he achieves that he will go to the regionals and maybe even to the NCAA finals that are in Sacramento, California, on June 11 through June 14.”

O’Mara is also satisfied with the way Murdock, only a freshman, has made his mark on the squad.

“This year Matt has done a great job and has shown a lot of leadership,” O’Mara said. “The thing with Matt is that he expects a lot from himself.”

Murdock makes up half of the squad’s javelin throwers. Tyson Hilgenberg, the only other ISU javelin thrower, said he may be trailing Murdock in athletic ability, but not in personality.

“With comparisons to both of us, Matt is the better javelin thrower, but I am much cooler,” Hilgenberg said.

Although Murdock was on the team last year, he did not compete.

“Last year when I lived in the dorms, I fell out of the loft, fracturing my right foot,” he said.

After the injury, Murdock had screws put in his foot.

“The injury certainly curtailed his training,” O’Mara said. “He had a relapse on his footwork. So he worked mainly on upper body work [during rehabilitation], and that has paid off.”

Despite the setback, Murdock is now back to full strength except from some occasional pain.

“The screws in my right foot have not affected my throwing,” Murdock said. “I was hesitant at first since there was some getting used to [the way it felt]. Still once in a while when training and throwing, I still feel pain in my foot.”

Even with his past injuries, the future is bright for Murdock. He has worked on his technique, but sometimes when Murdock wants to throw the javelin at an unprecedented length, he just thinks back to his motivation.

“Chicks dig the long throw,” Murdock said.