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Thowers Using Mental Strength
by Patrick Creaven, Daily 49er
May 10, 2007
A couple months ago, Long Beach State's track and field throwing coach
Greg Hodel started to have his players practice a new exercise. But unlike
throwing the hammer, discus or shot put, he wanted them to do something
much less physical.
He wanted them to stand in front of a wall with their eyes closed for
20 minutes.
"At first we didn't have a lot of faith in the new [technique],"
said LBSU thrower Jennifer Onyeagbako. "We would joke around while
doing it and not take it seriously. But as the season has gone on, we
realized it was helping us, and now we take it seriously."
Although the mental exercise looks a little silly to the outside observer,
what is going on in the throwers' heads is helping them when they open
their eyes and start practicing.
"I just close my eyes and in my head I go from first person to third
person," said Rob Jennings, who has recorded the longest discus throw
in the Big West Conference this season. "First, I picture what it
is like to throw in the first person. Then I go third person, and I watch
myself, like I do on tape. I am focusing on the little things and that
helps."
It sure is helping.
LBSU features one of the best all-around throwing groups in the Big West
Conference. The group will have to be at their best this weekend when
the men's and women's track and field teams go to Cal State Northridge
to compete in the Big West Championships.
Jennings and Ezra Kwong, who are roommates, are the top throwers for the
49er men, ranking at or near the top in the hammer, discus and shot put.
For the women, Onyeagbako is the best overall thrower, ranking as the
top discus, No. 6 hammer and No. 7 shot put thrower in the conference.
"In my 11 years, this is the best overall [throwing] group I have
ever had," Hodel said.
Much of the throwers' success comes from pure talent, but they say what
has raised their performance is their mental approach to the game.
"At this point of the season, we have done everything there is to
do physically," said Kwong, who has the second longest shot put throw
in the Big West Conference this season. "With the season coming to
an end, I'm now focusing on the mental side of the sport."
Both the men's and women's Big West track and field championships are
wide open coming into the weekend meet.
"[The men's track and field team] definitely has a chance to win
it," Kwong said. "There isn't a clear favorite, so anyone can
win it. I think we are going to do very well."
On the women's side, Onyeagbako also believes the team can leave Northridge
with a conference championship.
"All the teams are pretty even, so I think we can win it," Onyeagbako
said. "It all depends on who does well on the day of the championships."
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