It’s a three-peat for Wyo’s ‘Nitro’, a PR for BC’s Brady Mider
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By Julie Pelchar Cohen — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
All was quiet far outside the stadium where the throwers were chasing big numbers.
The calm felt unfitting considering one of the state’s best javelin hurlers was at work.
But these Niedrowski boys have been spoiling the Berks County track and field scene.
We’ve come to expect flashy numbers from this locally famous javelin-throwing family.
Collin, the latest Niedrowski phenom, methodically and easily won a county championship Saturday afternoon at the 80th William H. Firing Memorial Victory Meet at Shillington.
The Wyomissing junior sent his best throw soaring 190 feet and 1 inch to capture his third straight county title – the most by this generation of Niedrowski boys.
“It feels amazing,” Niedrowski said.
Oldest brother Hunter, now a Wyomissing throws coach, has a Firing gold medal.
So does brother Evan, who won as a sophomore before losing his last two seasons to the pandemic and an injury.
Father Jeff and uncle Rocky won county titles for Wilson in the 1990’s.
Another county thrower flexed his muscle Saturday.
Berks Catholic junior Brady Mider, the state’s top-ranked shot putter, added a few more inches to his personal best as he creeps toward his event’s milestone.
Mider bombed a 59-4 on his final throw to win his first county title – a mighty blast that sent his shot shooting out of the sector, across the grass and under a gap in the wire fence surrounding the stadium.
“I definitely started off a little slow today,” Mider said. “I was slipping (in the wet circle) a little bit. But I just got my mental game straight and went out there and did what I had to do.”
Perhaps Collin Niedrowski’s throws prompted Saturday’s subdued feel at the javelin.
The spectators and coaches might have been hypnotized by his consistency. Big throw after big throw consistently cut through the sky on this gray and dreary day.
Niedrowski warmed up with tosses that neared 180 on his first two attempts in prelims. He only improved from there.
“That consistency,” he said, “I’m really proud of that.”
Niedrowski hit 190-1 twice in the finals, a number that has become familiar this spring. He tossed a career-best 190-8 at a dual meet last month and another 190 at last weekend’s Shaner Meet.
His personal best currently ranks 11th among Pennsylvania throwers.
“I’ve hit it so many times,” Niedrowski said. “I’m just waiting for one to go up. It will be a big throw as soon as it all comes together.”
A big throw in Niedrowski family terms – and in the world of high school javelin – means touching 200 feet.
Dad and Uncle Rocky did it. Evan hit it as well. Hunter was only four inches shy of the milestone.
Jeff, Hunter and little brother Tyler, a freshman thrower, watched Collin chase the 200 mark Saturday. Evan, who finished 11th at last year’s NCAA Division I championships as a Monmouth freshman, was traveling and arrived after Collin finished.
“Just keep going at it at practice,” said Niedrowski, whose teammates Isaac Focht and Drew Forrey took silver and bronze, respectively. “I feel like if I just stay on this path then it will eventually come with time.”
It felt as though Niedrowski officially joined the family legacy Saturday.
Even with a pair of county gold medals heading into his junior season and a trip to the PIAA championships as a freshman, Collin didn’t hit Niedrowski-like numbers until this year.
While he added just a foot to his personal best from his freshman to sophomore season, he’s improved by more than 25 feet from last year’ PR of 164-7 at the Firing Meet.
Niedrowski was determined to rebound from a disappointing end to his sophomore season, when he failed to qualify for states.
“I probably had one of the worst meets of my life,” Niedrowski said of the District 3 championships. “I’m excited to go back with a vengeance.”
Wyomissing throws coach Ty Smith, who is also Niedrowski’s stepfather, sent Collin a long text to start this season — a message to put last year behind him and move on to bigger and better numbers.
Smith said Niedrowski replied with two words.
“He texted back, ‘No regrets’” Smith said. “He has that mentality that I want to do this. I want to be a part of the family business.”
Niedrowski certainly showed that Saturday.
Mider put on his own show. After his sleepy start, he fouled his second throw of the finals with one try remaining. The unmeasured mark was a big one and probably would’ve been close to 60 feet.
“Some people would be disappointed with a big foul,” Mider said. “But it felt good. I just missed the save at the circle. I knew it was there. I just had to go out there and do it.”
Of course the chatter surrounding Mider is focused on hitting 60. He doesn’t mind the countywide anticipation.
“Yes, I’m going to hit it,” he said. “I don’t let it bother me too much. I focus on myself and do what I can do. I’ll get it. It’s just a matter of when.”
