The four time state champion from Mason County has been training vigorously for the upcoming Olympic Trials. We checked in with Andy to see how is training is going and what advice he has to offer to the young throwers of Kentucky!
How is the training for the Olympic trials progressing?
Preparing for the Olympic trials has been going well. Since finishing 6th in the 2012 Olympic trials, I set out a 4-year plan to be an Olympian by this year. So it hasn't just been the past year of training that matters, but the last 4 years. In that time, I have transition from Boiling Springs, NC where I was coaching at Gardner-Webb University to Myrtle Beach, SC so I can focus more on my training.
Other than making the Olympic
team, what goals have you set for the immediate future?
At the current moment, I am competing this indoor season in the weight throw. For those who aren't familiar, the weight throw is a shorter, heavier version of the hammer throw. It is my goal to become the US National Champion in the weigh throw this year. Also, I am aiming to throw a mark beyond 77 meters in the hammer en route to the Olympic trials.
What advice do you have for current high school athletes that are looking to emulate what you have accomplished?
Anyone who has a passion to become an Olympian needs to become student of their sport. When in high school, I didn't have every resource, but I took upon myself to gain those resources and learn about the throws along with my coach, Mike Stanley. It became a journey for both of us. We realized that it wasn't going to happen overnight and that there was not "magic" way to just throw far. I put in endless hours of working and studying to help refine my technique and performance. Most high schools students want to be good in an instant, but they have to realize that it is journey and it could take some time. There is a saying that Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your technique become good in a day. What high school students, or anyone interested in chasing goals need to understand is that I have been chasing this goal since 2001. 15 years later, I am hoping to realize this goal. If I don't, I will still continue to chase this goal into 2020. The one thing about setting goals is that the time will pass anyway, its just a matter of what you do with that time that determines if you reach that goal. So my advice to anyone pursuing an Olympic dream is to remain persistently consistent in your craft and this will help you become successful.
Can you explain the process of the Olympic trials for those who may not be familiar with what it entails.
In order to make the the US Olympic Team, there are a couple of steps that have to be taken. First, you must qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials. This is done by achieving a performance standard set by USATF or being listed high enough on a descending order list to be accepted. For example, the standard to qualify in the Men's Hammer Throw is 72 meters. All that one has to do is throw 72 meters and they will be able to participate in the Olympic trials. If they were not able to obtain 72 meters then USATF is allowing a maximum of 24 athletes to participate in the Men's Hammer Throw that will be chosen off of descending order list given that all slots aren't filled with automatic qualifiers. Each event is different in how many will be accepted. After qualifying for the trials, you will then need to finish in the top 3 of your event. Those are the places that receive priority. The top are encourage to process for the Olympic Team as places 4-8 are considered alternates just in case the top 3 finishers are unable to attend. Once an athlete finishing in the top 3, they must have obtained the Olympic Games standard anytime during the qualification period in order to participate in the Olympic Games. The qualification period is typically the 18 months prior to the start of the Olympic Games. If an athlete has not achieved the standard, then priority will be give to the next athlete that has achieved the standard who finished in the top 8. If no other athlete has achieved, then it will go to the athlete who listed the highest on the World Descending Order List. Just like the Olympic trials, the Olympic Games will operate in the same manner, but instead fill up to 32 participants chosen from the IAAF World Descending Order List. It all sounds complicated and really is, but there an easy way to make the Olympic Games. For me, it is to throw a mark of 77 meters and finish in the top 3. This is why I listed one of my goals to throw 77 meters en route to the Olympic Trials.
