June 5, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Friday, June 5th, marks the 50th anniversary of the world record setting javelin throw by famed La Salle alum and Navy coach Al Cantello '55.

Cantello set the world mark of 282-3 (86.04 meters) at the Compton Invitational in California on June 5, 1959. He bested the previous mark of 281-2 (85.71 meters), set by Norway's Egil Danielson who won the gold medal in the 1956 Olympics.

Earlier this season, Cantello was inducted into the Penn Relays Wall of Fame and is now one of just 79 athletes honored out of the thousands who have competed in the Relays. He was inducted for his accomplishments at the Relays, which included him being one of only two athletes to three-peat in the javelin.

Cantello represented the United States in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where he finished 10th despite battling dysentery at the time.

While at La Salle in the mid-1950's, he became the track program's first NCAA All-American. He still holds the school record of 245-03.75 to this day. A charter member of the Hall of Athletes in 1961, Cantello was a four-time MAC champion, three-time IC4A champion and three-time Penn Relays champion.

Cantello is also a selectee for Sport Magazine's All-Time Track and Field Team.

He has been serving as a coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for more than 40 years and has several "Coach of the Year" honors to his name during his time as head coach. He currently serves as an assistant to the Mids.

Information courtesy of Walt Murphy's News and Results Service, ThePennRelays.com, and La Salle University Communications.