Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Tony Bonura Click photo for larger image.

Former Plum High School and Pitt javelin thrower Tony Bonura has some specific things he wants to accomplish at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that begin today in Indianapolis.

"I'll be upset if I'm not in the top five," Bonura said this week. "I'd like to try to qualify for the USA team and, hopefully, I'll get to travel with them. And, hopefully, I throw well enough to qualify for the Pan-Am Games"

That's a lot different from last year, when a somewhat wide-eyed and partially burned-out Bonura threw at nationals for the first time, finishing 12th.

"Going into last year, it was a big shock, being with all the big guns," Bonura said. "This year, I have more a sense of the field that's going to be there. I've seen the backdrop to [the Mike Carroll] Stadium. I know the stadium setup. I'm not going to be so worried about where everyone is or the television cameras."

In the past year since he graduated from Pitt, Bonura, 24, has continued on a path he hopes will lead to the Olympics. He had a personal-best throw of 75.21 meters (246 feet, 9 inches) at a meet at Slippery Rock in April, the third-best distance in the United States this year and good enough to meet the B-standard qualifying distance for the Olympic trials next year.

At nationals, the man to beat is Breaux Greer, whose throw of 90.71 meters is more than 12 better than anyone else.

Bonura was a two-time Big East champion and two-time NCAA All-American at Pitt. He began to concentrate on javelin after being a quarterback at Plum and Canisius College before transferring to Pitt.

He has retained Pitt assistant Curt Phillips as his coach, and the two of them moved to a more pro approach after Bonura graduated -- fewer meets and a heavier concentration on technique and event-specific training, without giving up running and conditioning.

"I'm watching films, trying to hit positions exactly right," Bonura said. "When you're in college, you're in a lot of meets. Last year, I competed in 13 meets. This year, I think I've been in three."

Bonura works for his father's cabinet business, allowing him the flexibility to train and travel as needed. With no classes or academic stress, everything has revolved around getting to his best for this week in Indianapolis.

"We pushed my training hard early in the year, then kind of backed off," Bonura said. "I feel good right now. I feel healthy. My arm doesn't hurt. My back doesn't hurt.

"I'm ready."

The men's javelin is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight.

At the same time on the track, Rochester High School graduate and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams is scheduled to run in the women's 100-meter preliminary round.

The women's 100 semifinals and final are tomorrow.

Williams also is entered in the 200, with the semifinals and final set for Sunday.

One of the top races should be the men's 200 with a field that includes Tyson Gay, who was ranked No. 1 in the world at the end of 2006; Wallace Spearman, the defending U.S. and reigning World Cup champion; Xavier Carter, who won four events at the NCAA championships and ran a 19.63 in Switzerland, the second-fastest time in history; and 400-meter Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner.

The men's 200 final is Sunday.

The nationals continue through Sunday. They will be televised tomorrow on ESPN2 from 8-9 p.m., Saturday on NBC from 2-3 p.m. and on ESPN2 from 7-8 p.m., and Sunday on NBC from 1-3 p.m.