It didnt take Aly Weeman long to take care of Goal No. 1.
The senior multitasker for the Wooster High girls track and field team was expected to have a strong season for the Generals on the track and in the field. It didnt take long for the returning State qualifier to do that.
Competing in the Generals second meet of the season against Norwayne and Buckeye, Weeman broke her personal record in the discus on her first throw. On her second, she shattered the school record by nearly six feet, erasing the old mark of 132-6 by Kara Taylor (2002) with a toss of 138-0. With an entire season ahead, who knows what is in store for her?
I know (head coach Nikki) Reynolds said her goal was 140 feet, said WHS throws coach Drew Gerber. I know she wants to get to State and wanted the record, but Im not stuck on a number. Ive got stuff in my head, but Im not going put that pressure on her.
Weeman has seen a remarkable improvement. She entered her junior season having yet to officially hit 90 feet in a meet, but ended last year with a throw of 128-8 and an 11th-place finish at State.
Last year was the first time she took throwing seriously, said Gerber. When the year was done she took all the discuses home with her and any free time she had, she was down at the college throwing.
She is still working on things technique-wise – she hasnt maxed out her potential at all and she still has things to work on. She definitely has the athletic ability and she is strong. She works hard and she listens to what I have to say and tries to correct it. She listens well.
Weeman put it all together last week, but the distance surprised even her.
I felt good warming up but I wasnt thinking about (the record), she said. The first meet I hit 122 and I was thinking about 125. I surprised myself on my first throw, which was 128-9, which was one inch better than my PR, and I didnt even throw hard. I thought, Oh if Id throw with a little more muscle , but I threw so much farther.
I thought Mr. (Troy) Worth was kidding me. I thought he said 128 at first. When I called my dad and told him, he thought it was an April Fools joke since it was April 1.
It was no joke, and that is why Gerber thinks Weeman could be a Div. I prospect in the event. That was borne out recently when Weeman visited Ohio State.
Their top girl is out right now with an injury and she throws 160 feet but I could be their No. 2 thrower, she said.
Throwing in college is an option she is going to keep open. Right now, though, her focus is on the rest of the season and continued improvement.
Id say the reason for my improvement is probably my coach, said Weeman. Mr. Gerber and I communicate well. I guess you could give all the credit to Mr. Gerber. When I started improving, Ive just kept going and going.
My goal was to break the record. We have that written on the poles (of the discus cage). Now that Ive gotten over that huge goal, I guess the next one is to break 140 after that and try for 150. But, Im going to set some easier goals than that.
As Gerber said, Weeman certainly wont rest easy as she goes in pursuit of that goal. As for any rest, that wont happen until the curtain comes down on Weemans 2010 season.
