In terms of experience Ian Vanderhoek is still in the infante stages of his development in throwing the javelin.
But thanks to a great arm and God-given natural talent the 19-year-old native of Bentley is one of the top junior athletes in the country.
Vanderhoek didn’t know much about javelin until Grade 11 at Central Alberta Christian High School in Lacombe.
“We were at (track and field) practice for the discus and they brought out a javelin as well and I gave it a try,” he explained. “I also competed in the high jump, long jump and shot put at the time.”
But he was a natural at the javelin. He qualified out of the Central Alberta zone to attend the provincial high school championships and finished third in the shot put and second in the intermediate boys javelin, bettering the old provincial record.
“The guy who beat me also broke the record, but it was good,” added Vanderhoek, whose dad (James) encouraged him to contact Athletics Alberta and continue on with the sport.
“I didn’t have a coach, although I did spend one day training with Red Deer Titans coach Darren Posyluzny, and he helped a lot,” continued Vanderhoek. “But I really didn’t have any technique. I did have a strong arm and it came natural to me.
Vanderhoek qualified for the Western Games during the summer of 2013 and from there qualified for the Legion nationals in Langley, B.C., where he finished second with an Alberta youth (15-17 year-old) record toss of 61.48-metres with the 700-gram javelin.
He was ranked No. 1 in Alberta and second in Canada.
The following year proved to be a disaster as he tore the meniscus in his knee, had surgery, and as a result missed the high school and summer season.
“I attended one meet in Sherwood Park with a leg brace, but overall I was out for four months,” he said.
But the injury was a small set-back for the six-foot, 180-pound Vanderhoek. He attended Ambrose College in Calgary in the fall of 2014 and decided to try out for their men’s basketball team, which played in the Alberta Colleges Athletic League.
“I was a walk-on and made it as a point guard,” he explained. “I played volleyball and basketball in high school and thought about trying for the volleyball team as well, but didn’t have the time.”
He was also still involved in track and field and the javelin. He joined the Calgary Track and Field Club and started working with coach Paul Sze.
“He was a very good coach. He fixed my form, rebuilding it. Before all I used was my arm and surprisingly I did well. I use my body more now and it makes the flow nicer.”
Vanderhoek finished third in the CALTAF Classic, which left him one spot short of qualifying for the Western Canada Games in Fort McMurray.
“It was iffy if I’d get a chance to go but one of the guys ahead of changed what he was doing and so they took three javelin throwers ... I was fortunate.”
He also made the most of it, finishing ahead of the other Alberta athletes and behind a B.C. and Manitoba competitor to place third with a personal best toss of 56.77m with the 800g javelin.
“I wanted to peak at that time and it was the perfect time to do it,” he said. “I was relaxed and just wanting to do my best and it worked out.”
As a result he is ranked No. 1 in Alberta in the junior division and fifth in Canada.
Vanderhoek will attend RDC this year, taking commerce. He will continue to weight train and work on the javelin as much as possible. What he isn’t going to do is try out for the Kings basketball team.
“It crossed my mind, but that’s the next level ... it would be tough,” he said.
Vanderhoek will also be getting married in November and won’t get the chance to travel to Calgary to train with Sze.
“However. I will be sending him video of my sessions and he can critique them and get back to me,” he explained.
Vanderhoek will attend RDC for two years then transfer to the University of Alberta.
As for the javelin he would like to continue to train and attend the national championships.