Haley showalter will continue her superb hammer throw season this week competing for Team USA at the Pan-American games( Edmonton, Canada). In the hammer throw, the future Wisconsin Badger won both New Balance Nationals outdoors and USATF Junior Nationals. At the Chicagoland Throwers Series, Showalter threw 194-1 to move from U.S No.8 All-Time to U.S No.7 All-time.
1) How did you get
into throwing?
I
got into throwing because my dad was a high school throwing coach and he wanted
me to try it when I was younger (about when I was 11). I started off just
throwing shot and disc, and then my freshman year of high school my dad
introduced me to the hammer because he threw it in college and wanted me to try
it. I ended up picking up the hammer faster than the other events.
2) Hammer Throw is not an event that is regularly contested in High School. How does that affect how much you train for this event?'
This
effects my training with the hammer significantly, especially during the spring
high school track season because we were throwing shot put and discus. It's
always been tough for me to get in the circle and start competing nationally
right away. When its time throw, it feels like I just picked the hammer back up because we were
focusing on shot put and discus for the high school season. I would just throw
on the weekends when time would allow during high school which made it hard to
get a solid rhythm going every time I stepped in the circle to compete.
3) In June you won NBNO by more than 4 feet. What kind of confidence did this you for USATF Juniors?
Actually, my performance at New Balance Nationals was a little unsettling for me going into junior nationals the next weekend. The distance was definitely not what I had been expecting or hoping for and I felt really off in my throwing at New Balance. I'm definitely grateful for the win at New Balance, but how I felt that day and the distance did not give me any confidence for juniors. I had to erase that series of throws from my mind to move forward and do well at juniors.
4) At the USA Outdoor Junior Championships you won the Hammer Throw, and in the process beat over a dozen colligates. How has this experience helped you prepare for Pan-American Games?
This experience has helped me prepare for Pan-AMs by showing me that it is not about who is the best going into the meet; but rather, who is the best on that given day. Anything can happen, and you can't expect to win or lose based on what you are seeded going into the competition. The overall experience of competing with all that tough competition at USA Juniors (and other big competitions I have been in) has taught me that it only takes one throw. Most of my throws at juniors were either completely off or into the cage, and I was in 7th for a while but I didn't let that stop me or make me nervous. You can't let the other competitor’s marks intimidate you and you can't do anything or worry about what they throw. You can only step in the circle and focus on what you can do, no matter where you stand in the competition.
5) You’ll be
representing Team USA up in Canada. What does that mean to you?
It's a huge honor to be able to represent the world’s best track and field
team! I'm so excited to have the opportunity to wear that USA across my chest
again while doing what I love.
6) You’re not
the only Wisconsin Badger that will be throwing at Pan-American games. Your future
teammate Kelsey Card competed at the Senior Pan-American Games in the discus. What
does being a future Badger mean to you and how do you feel about joining a
strong throwing program?
I
am so excited to be a future badger. I mostly am eager to be able to focus on
my main event in college and hopefully see some results from spending more time
than I ever have with hammer. I also am really excited to have an actual team
with similar goals training alongside me.
7) Do you have any specific goals or marks for the Pan-American Games?
I'm always hoping to PR, but my overall goal is to make finals and earn a medal.
8) Have you done
anything special to prepare yourself for the upcoming competition?
No,
I have not done anything special outside of what I normally have when it comes
to practicing or lifting; however, I have been working really hard on my
mentality towards practice throws. I have been putting a lot more focus in
keeping a positive attitude even when I am having bad throws. I’ve also worked
on not getting upset when I’m not doing well because it's something I am going
to need to do to move forward with this event.
9) What are you
most looking forward to?
I am mostly looking forward to the opportunity
to finish my very long season competing for USA and being out in Edmonton
Canada with all of the other incredibly talented track and field athletes on
the junior team. I am also really looking forward to going to Wisconsin and
starting my collegiate track and field career in a month.
