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Blewitt is the defending Division II shot
put champion for Ashland (Michael Vosburg) |
1. After coming off another NCAA Division II national title in the shotput
last season, what are your goals heading into your senior year in 2003?
Going into my senior year, I would like to
continue my success that I have already been fortunate
to be a part of and to exceed my own personal
standards and expectations. Secondly, my coach [Jud
Logan] and I have begun working for a transition towards success for a post
collegiate season.
2. At the recent Golden Flash Gala hosted by Kent State, you threw 57'8.50"
which would have won the Division I meet last season. Do you enjoy competing
against and beating the best at the Division I level as well?
Ashland University, although a Division II school,
has given me many opportunities to compete against the
best track and field programs in the US.
Subsequently, these experiences helped me develop
outside of Division II expectations which enable me to
own a national record and be competitive in a Division
I atmosphere.
3. Jud Logan, a 4-time Olympic participant for the United States in the
hammer, is your coach at Ashland. How much has he and the rest of the
coaching staff helped you develop into the athlete you are today?
Experience is the best teacher and Jud's incredible
thirst for knowledge and willingness to learn from
those around him has guided myself to the next level.
This is also the characteristic that has put Ashland
on the map as a strong athletic program due to the
dedication of the coaching staff.
4. Not many throwers compete and qualify in three events at the NCAA national
meet such as you did last season in the shot put, discus and hammer. How do you
find time to practice and prepare yourself for all three events during the
season?
We train my events in order of importance, with
shotput being number one. It is hard to excel in all
three events at the same level and it is easy to let
one slip in relation to the improvement of another and
it can be frustrating when you want to excel in all
three. However, balance is the key to a successful
season in multi-events. I feel that Jud has been able to determine what kind
of athlete I am and together we work out my training schedule.
5. Ashland has had at least one national champion at the outdoor
championships for nine consecutive years. Describe the success and
tradition about the program tat many people might not realize.
The success and tradition of Ashland University
Track and Field begins with the atmosphere created by
the coaching staff and the athletes. We don't have
the best facilities by far and our budget is something
to be desired in comparison to other schools, however,
through the positive training atmosphere that has been
created, athletes always find success. Whether it is
a centimeter personal record or a 7 second PR, it seems everyone
finds success at their personal level.
6. It will be an even longer season this year with the US national meet as
qualifying for the World Outdoor Championships later this summer. How will
you prepare yourself and make sure that you will peak at the right time after
such a long collegiate season?
As a collegiate athlete, I set my priorities with my conference meet and
NCAAs. However, I have approached a level at which I need to expand my
season for meets at a higher level like USAs. Ever since my freshman year, I
have been able to elongate my season and peak more a little each year. Each
experience tests my abilities and pushes me to the limit. Fortunately, I
have been able to adjust my seasons to accommodate and peak for the prize
meets such as USAs and more recently, as a part of USA National Under 25 team
this past summer. This last year has been the longest season for me yet and
I found it to be tough to compete in a high intensity atmosphere with a
collegiate season in addition to USA meets and teams. I will admit that I
look forward to a post-collegiate season when I focus on fewer competitions
and one main event! However, for now, there still is unfinished business in
my senior collegiate year of eligibility.
7. What do you focus on the most when you are in the weight room and any kind
of plyometric activities to further enhance your events?
I usually set personal goals to strive for in the weight room.
Right now, I can always get stronger. I probably have the weakest
bench press in my field where on a good day I could put up 200lbs.
(it hasn't happened yet). In addition to the bench, my back squat
needs to come up a bit. But as far as enhancing my events, I love
to remind myself that no one is working as hard as I do and no one
is doing what we do. In the preseason we do a lot of grip work and
strongman events.
In-season, we hit our events hard and focus on the weight room.
We have a lot of workouts that just kick your butt and I love it.
Reaching a personal goal is so much sweeter when you look back at
the sweat and pain that you worked through to get to that point.
Finally, at the peak of our season, everything just comes together.
8. When did you first give the throwing events a try and what kind of advice
would you give a young athlete who wishes to do the same for the first time?
I started throwing the shotput and discus in the 7th grade following in my
older sister's footsteps. My sister loved track and so I thought I would give
it a try. I had asthma and I decided that there was no way I would choose to
run for the team, so I went out for the field events.
I would always recommend young athletes to try something new. I had no idea
I would be a competitive thrower until I tried it and didn't give up on it.
I went through a countless number of meets when I wasn't the best but it was
okay. I didn't give up and quit. If we never experience defeat, we will
never know the value and price of winning.