* Max Herman in the discus and shot put over the 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons
Photo Credit: Submitted/MileSplit
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By Brett Haffner - MileSplit Correspondent
For Max Herman, success has never been about the flashiness of a new PR.
Neither has it been about being ranked U.S. No. 1 in the weight throw.
It's never been about having a world-class mentor like Daniel Haugh in his corner.
The culmination of five years of hard work, persistence and focused effort has led Herman to become one of the nation's best throwers. He currently sits U.S. No. 1 in the weight throw, having thrown an unbelievable 80 feet, 5.75 inches earlier this January.
But his rise to stardom didn't just happen overnight -- it's been a long time coming for the Marietta (GA) High School senior.
"This year's the easy year, the other four years were the years I had to focus and grind," Herman said. "I can now enjoy the fruits of my labor of all my hard work and focus."
Upon joining track and field in the seventh grade, Herman gave everything a try, but he discovered his talent in the discus at a young age.
"My friends and I weren't too good at baseball, so we all decided to do track," Herman said. "After they found I was pretty good at discus, I talked to my [now] club coach, Mike Judge."
Related Links:
Nation's Top 50 Indoor Weight Throwers
Nation's Top 50 Shot Put Throwers
"I'd like to think I'm better than most high school athletes in getting my sleep, calories and protein accounted for on a daily basis. I even drink half a gallon of milk before bed every night."
Even today, Judge remains Herman's coach at Throw1Deep, a program based out of Marietta which also happens to practice only 15 minutes away from where Herman lives.
With a fantastic opportunity at his feet and a renowned coach to learn from, Herman quickly got to work.
He immediately grasped what it took to succeed. His work ethic shaped his burgeoning career.
"Judge told me to do 400 turns a day, so I did 400 turns a day," Herman said. "I started lifting and really working on hammer [throw] and weight [throw], so I got a lot better in those events."
His daily grind, attention to detail and laser-like focus are some of the key values that have transformed him into the fierce competitor he is now.
It even extends outside of the ring, too.
Thanks to having earned a bounty of academic credits, Herman utilizes a late arrival in his school schedule. That freedom has given him a few more opportunities a week to train, eat a good breakfast and still have time to study for his classes, too.
"I'd like to think I'm better than most high school athletes in getting my sleep, calories and protein accounted for on a daily basis," Herman said. "I even drink half a gallon of milk before bed every night."
Much to his mom's pleasure, he says, he doesn't drink straight from the gallon.
Since the 2022 season, Herman has addressed some of the weaknesses he experienced in the ring. To do so, he says, he's meticulously analyzed the finer details to his throws.
"I struggled with being stable and I fouled out at Nike [Nationals] and U20s," Herman said. "I'm working on being looser and longer, being more stable and being more towards the center of the ball."
Considering he's PR'd in both the weight throw and shot put (53-3) only two meets into the season, it's safe to say his focus is carrying him further along.
Herman says he aims to set training goals at the beginning of each month, then jots the progress of those goals by the month's end.
Over time, he sees progress over long stretches.
"When I was younger, I would dive into the numbers and be consumed by them," he said. "Now as I'm older, I think a lot less about numbers and more about technique, progress, and being more technically sound, to be more efficient.
"I understand what numbers I need to hit in practice and in meets, but I focus my mental energy on the process and the little details."
When you see Herman at meets, you might see him joking around and staying loose, but in reality his mind is laser-focused.
"I don't think too much in the ring; I know my cue and my one thing to focus on," Herman said. "But I've learned to enjoy the meets much more, rather than stress about them. I want to make sure I'm loose and ready, but keep my mind in one spot."
A strong support system has been a big boost for Herman over his career, but one particular person has given him perspective on his future.
"Daniel Haugh is a great mentor for me, to be able to speak with [him] to see the mentality, focus and meticulousness he brings to practice," Herman said. "It's a completely different ballgame, and being exposed to that environment at a young age is super sweet."
Having an Olympian to serve as inspiration and as a mentor, Herman says he has a clear sight of what it takes to get to the professional realm of throws.
But that's not his first priority.
Herman is committed to the University of Nebraska to study Construction Management this upcoming fall and to continue on his throwing career in the ring.
He says he aims to extend the legacy of his father and grandfather, who also underwent similar career paths, all while fine-tuning his craft in the ring.
It's a day-by-day process.
