"Good thing we brought a second javelin"

The Associated Press sports wire often has interesting, scary and/or funny stories. One that moved today has parts that fit each of those categories.

During the Utah state high school track and field championships Monday, a photographer named Ryan McGeeney of the Standard-Examiner apparently wandered into an off-limits zone while taking pictures of the discus event. The zone he wandered into was marked off for the javelin.

You might be able to guess what happened next.

Yep. A javelin thrown by Anthony Miles, of Provo High, speared McGeeney in the leg, below the knee. Fortunately the javelin did not hit any blood vessels, nerves or ligaments, but the tip went through the leg and the javelin had to be cut off at the scene. McGeeney, a 33-year old ex-Marine who spent six months in Afghanistan, required 13 stitches. He even managed to snap a picture of his leg ("If I didn't, it would probably be my editor's first question when I got back," he said.)

Now here's the funny part. Miles' coach, Richard Vance, had this to say: "One of the first things that came to my mind was, 'Good thing we brought a second javelin.'"

Miles ended up winning the javelin. But on a subsequent throw, not the speared one.