Region 2 Junior Olympic Qualifying Results-New NYS Freshman Hammer Record

Many throwers in New York State are never exposed to the hammer throw until they attend college and are taught the event for the first time at 18 or 19 years of age.  One of my goals with Forza Athletics is to provide high school athletes the opportunity to learn how to throw the hammer in a safe, nurturing, and fun environment (yes nurturing, I'll always be a teacher at heart).  Along with the exposure athletes are having in the weight throw thanks to Section V allowing the weight to be contested indoors a couple of years ago, progress is being made in Western, NY.

One local thrower that has taken pretty well to the hammer is Monique Hardy.  Monique will be a sophomore at Webster Thomas High School in Webster, NY this 2017-18 school year.  She began throwing the weight this year as a freshman, in which she experienced great success.  Along with winning the Section V weight throw championship, Monique finished third at New Balance Indoor Nationals with a throw of 48' (top throw in the USA for high school freshmen).  

We began working together this past June to see if we could replicate her weight throw success with the hammer.  After a couple of weeks of working together, Monique threw at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships held in North Carolina.  Throwing in her first hammer competition, Monique fouled out of the competition.  With that learning experience under her belt, we began to really focus in on the mental side of throwing as well (the software).  With a more efficient routine and strategy in place, Monique experienced success in the Region 2 Junior Olympic qualifying meet held at SUNY Brockport on July 7th.  

On this day, Monique took first in her age group (15-16), as well as first overall for all the female athletes competing.  Her second round throw of 46.18m broke the New York State Frosh record set 10 years ago.  You can read more about her record breaking performance by clicking http://ny.milesplit.com/articles/216287-frosh-hammer-state-record-goes-down-over-the-summer

​You watch her record breaking performance below.

Monique will next be competing at the 2017 USA Junior Olympic Championships to be held on Monday, July 24th in Lawrence, Kansas.  Best wishes to you Monique as you continue on your throwing journey.