Roberta Brown

Roberta Brown was a javelin thrower who competed for San Diego State and the San Diego Lancerettes. She won a bronze medal in the 1971 Pan American Games with the javelin. In 1972 Brown was third in the javelin at the Olympic Trials, but made the team by the narrowest of margins, as she tied for third with Barbara Friedrich at 52.00 (170-7), but Brown had the tie-breaker with the second best throw. Brown placed in the top six at the AAU Meet from 1968-72, finishing 6th, 5th, 4th, 6th, and 2nd respectively. She also won the javelin at the 1971 USA-Africa Meet at Duke University.

Brown had studied to become a physical education teacher, but her Dad helped her get her a job at Singer General Precision in San Marcos. In the meantime, she also became a licensed pilot. She later became a commercial pilot with Sea Airmotive in Bethel, Alaska, but then moved to Kodiak Western in Dillingham, Alaska. On 4 August 1981 Brown went out on a flight and her plane crashed. She was discovered that night, having died in the crash.

Personal Best: JT – 186-4 [56.79] (1971).