ROCHESTER — Saturday’s Empire State Games’ javelin competition was just another typical summer weekend activity for the Hannay family.

The Westerlo family has a fondness for throwing long, sharp objects far distances. It seems like an activity that would get young kids in trouble, but the love for the sport sprouts from the patriarch of the family, Scott.

Scott Hannay learned the sport while in college and has never stopped competing. And now his two children, Greg and Sarah, compete, too. The father-son-daughter team are the first to compete in the same event at the same games.
"No games has had three family members compete in three of the four divisions at the Empire State Games," Scott Hannay said. "It was a good year to do it. It’s a good experience."

Hannay also is the oldest person to win a gold medal in an open division event at the games. He is 42.
"I’ve been waiting for 17 years to win the gold," he said. "It was a real competitive field. The three-time gold medalist was in the field. In the third round, I bombed a big one and no one could catch me."

Hannay’s final score was 57.72 meters. Don Ampansiri of Niskayuna had the next best score with 54.61 meters.

"As good as it gets"

Greg and Sarah finished fourth in their scholastic divisions. Sarah moved up one spot from the previous year and Greg jumped from eighth to fourth in his first games. His sixth and final throw, set a personal record by 17 feet.
"I said Junior Olympics to him before his final throw and he knew what it meant," Scott Hannay said. "He needed to stand tall up there and he had to go get it.
"He is a freshman, going to be a sophomore, and he was a step away from a medal," Hannay added. "It’s all you could hope for going against the best in your sport. It’s as good as it gets."

The Hannay children have been going to track meets since they were kids so they learned how to throw early. Then, they started competing in Junior Olympic competitions. They also practiced in the backyard at their home in Westerlo.
"It was just from, watching him do it," Greg Hannay said of his father. "I tried it, liked it, and continued to do it."
"We were going with him to meets," Sarah Hannay said. "I might as well do it. We’ve been going to the Empire State Games for a long time and I just wanted to do it. It’s fun to do."

Since javelin isn’t part of high-school track meets, Junior Olympics and other non-school events are the only place the Hannay kids can compete. The Hannays do throw the shot and discus for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo team. Greg also runs sprints.

Both are also soccer goalies. This fall will be Sarah’s fourth year on the varsity team and Greg is looking to be the starting keeper on the boys’ varsity.

Rare

The Hannays’ accomplishments with the javelin are notable because the sport is nearly non-existent locally.
"Long Island and the City can compete in it because the private and Catholic schools have it," Scott Hannay said. "And Hudson Valley kids can go compete in meets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Upstate New York doesn’t have it and the Western kids can go to Pennsylvania, which has it. The Capital District is the only area where kids don’t really compete in it. It’s tough to schedule meets in other areas that do compete in it."

Scott Hannay said he would like to see New York State adopt the sport as part of the track season.
"I think there are some insurance issues," he said. "It can be a dangerous thing. You’ve got kids throwing a sharp object. But all the New England states have it."

Sarah and Greg both hope to compete in shot or discus in future Empire State Games.
"I tried out for discus and javelin and I didn’t make it in discus," Greg Hannay said. "I’m looking forward to it and hoping to move up next year or make it in discus."

Sarah Hannay said she prefers the shot and Greg Hannay favors the discus.

Inspired

They are inspired by their father.
"I think it’s cool for him," Greg Hannay said. "Especially for his age. He’s competing against college kids and doing well."

Scott Hannay missed a few years of competition in the early 1990’s. He had two surgeries to repair anterior cruciate ligaments.
"It was really hard rehabbing," he said. "It’s a lot harder than training."

And it bothered him to miss competing while out with his knee injuries for much the same reason he still throws the javelin every year.
"I got to have the competition," Hannay said. "They have T-shirts here that say ‘To be the best you have to play the best.’ I have a lot of energy and last night [Friday] I could hardly sleep because I was nervous for Greg. I jumped up after that last throw. I’m competitive through them now."