Bryan Cortes appears to be finding consistency at the right time.
The Port Coquitlam javelin athlete almost recently matched his personal best throw with Simon Fraser University (SFU), enough to be named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's field athlete of the week.
And the effort may have also helped him qualify for the 2023 NCAA Div. II track and field championships in Colorado next month.
He finished fourth out of 31 opponents at the Bryan Clay Invitational, which took place last weekend (April 13 to 15) at Azusa Pacific University — located 40 km east of Los Angeles.
Cortes, a junior with the Red Leafs, heaved his spear to 195 feet and eight inches (59.64 m) — roughly two-and-a-half feet shy of his collegiate record of 198 feet, three inches (60.44 m).
The 2017 Terry Fox Secondary grad set that benchmark at last year's GNAC outdoor track and field championships, which was good for a bronze medal in his category.
Cortes' arm now has him ranked 28th in NCAA Div. II competition and he received a provisional qualifier spot for nationals, set for May 25 to 27 at Colorado State University–Pueblo.
Since the start of the 2023 season, Cortes has amassed four top-five placements in five meets, including first place in SFU's Emilie Mondor Invitational with a javelin throw of 176 feet, three inches (53.72 m).
Prior to last weekend, he cracked the top 10 in the Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, Cali., out of 24 throwers, spearing to a distance of 191 feet, one inch (58.25 m).
This is the first athlete of the week nod for Cortes. The award was for the week ending on April 16.
He suited up for the Terry Fox Ravens in high school track and field, as well as soccer and football.
According to GNAC, the next scheduled event for SFU is the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational in Bellingham, Wash., on April 29.
