 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | National Scholastic Indoor Championships
March 13-15, 2009 - New York Armory
Conor McCullough 93-3.25 breaks
his 2-day old US weight throw record
|
BY JIM LAMBERT
NEW YORK NY 3/15/09 – Conor McCullough was coming off a remarkable national record setting performance at the Nike Nationals in Boston on Friday. But the senior from Chaminade High School in West Hills, Ca., wasn’t content with his US record 92-7 ½ that he unloaded in the weight throw at the Reggie Lewis Center.
 ``I had some some things with my technique that needed to be worked on,’’ said McCullough. ``I felt I could still accelerate more from the back and keep the ball flat. I felt if I did that I could improve.’’
Improve he did, sending the 25-pound ball and chain rocketing toward the fence that sits just about 100 feet from the circle on his second throw in the final and his fifth overall. When it finally came crashing down, it short-hopped the fence, landing at 93-3 ¼ , a new US record. It's McCullough's second straight NSIC title, who won last year with an 87-10 3/4, which stood as the national record until he broke it twice in Boston .
``I don’t really think about numbers or anything like that,’’ said McCullough, who is considering Princeton, Harvard, Duke and USC. ``I just want to keep improving, so I’m happy that I could that today.’’
McCullough was asked what the difference was throwing in New York compared to Boston, which were his only two meets of the season.
``Both meets have the same great atmosphere,’’ he said. ``But I don’t really pay much attention to where I am. I kind of block everything out when I get in that circle and just throw.’’
McCullough takes a very business like approach to his throwing. In between throws he was laying down on the ground, about 75 feet away from the throwing cage without anyone near him. Meanwhile, all the other throwers practicing their technique while they wait their turn.
``All the practice is already done,’’ he said. ``I just try to visualize what I am going to do.’’
Did he visualize 93-3 ¼?
``No, but I did visualize having my best throw,’’ he said. ``When I let it go, I knew it was a good. I wasn’t aiming for the fence, but it would have been okay with me if I hit it.’’
Alec Faldermeyer of Minisink Valley NY had a huge personal best as the junior finished second to McCullough for the second time in three days. Faldermeyer let out a primal roar when his final throw landed at 79-7 ¼. His previous best was 76-10 ¼.
photo by John Nepolitan
McCULLOUGH’S SERIES
80-1 ½
90-11
89-5
88-11
93-3 ¼
79-7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
