Best friends share competitive spirit and love for javelin

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News



Nothing could ever affect the longtime friendship of Grain Valley High School sophomores Madison Rust and her longtime buddy Molly Jones.


And that includes their competitive nature when they step foot on the javelin track to compete against each other on the Eagles track and field team.


Rust, who has developed into one of the premier throwers in the metro area, won the javelin event at the Grain Valley Throwers Invitational Tuesday afternoon with a 42.58 effort.


Jones was second with a 35.74 effort.


“We play softball together at the high school and now, we're teammates on the track team, which is so cool,” said Rust, who also plays basketball and is a quarterback on the first-year flag football team.


Last year Rust had a personal high throw of 40.94 and she has already surpassed that basically each time she competes.


Jones, who is also a standout swimmer, loves teaming up with Rust on two Grain Valley sports teams.


“We have so much fun every time we're on the same team,” Jones said. “I talked to coach (Flip) Courter last year and he said I should try the javelin.


“It was a great decision. I really love the sport and competing with Madison.”


Track is that unique sport where teammates get points for their team by competing against each other.


“We compete against each other, but it's a friendly competition,” Jones added. “We know that the better we do, the more points we score for our team.”


Rust is playing two sports this spring, as she shares quarterback duties with Addy Seyfert on the school's first-year flag football team.


“Molly and I are both having so much fun throwing the javelin this season,” Rust said. “She can't get away from me and I can't get away from her – and we like it that way (laughing).


“And it's fun to play different sports because you never get bored.”


Flip Courter, one of the most respected javelin coaches in the state, loves the friendly competition between the two sophomores.


“It's fun to watch them compete against each other,” Courter said. “And this meet is great because it gives all our kids who throw the javelin the chance to compete at a meet.”


Other finishers, who threw personal records for the Eagles were Charlee Burdick, 26.03; Ella Hay, 23.09; and Aubrielle Boos, 17.90.


On the boys side, Landon Holmes led the Eagles with a throw of 25.97. He was followed by Cayden Polletta, 25.48; and Tanner Moreels, 19.92. Each of these throws were personal records.

Longtime best friends Molly Jones, left, and Madison Rust enjoyed solid performances at Tuesday night's Grain Valley Throwers Invitational. Rust won the javelin with a throw of 42.58 meters while Jones was second, with a 35.74 effort. Jones and Rust are also teammates on the Grain Valley softball team. Photo credit: Bill Althaus
​