Lindsey Blaine of Lyle made personal history on June 9 when she captured her first NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championship in the women's javelin, in the final meet of her collegiate career.
Blaine, a senior at Purdue University in W. Lafayette, Ind., won the event with a career-best throw of 182 feet, 3 inches (55.56).
That effort--the third longest in school history--earned her All-America honors for the first time and capped a season in which the 2003 Lyle High graduate also won Big Ten Conference and NCAA Mideast Regional titles, setting then-personal records at both meets.
Thanks to Blaine's national championship, the Purdue women's team tied for 21st place at the national meet in Sacramento, Calif., its best finish since 2002.
Blaine assured herself of a career-best finish at the NCAA championships when she qualified for the finals with the seventh-best throw (162-4) in the June 7 preliminaries. Her highest ranking in three previous national appearances was 14th as a freshman.
In the 12-thrower finals two days later, Blaine set the mark to beat on her first of six throws, becoming the third woman in Purdue records to surpass 180 feet. Prior to nationals, her all-time best throw was 170-11.
"When I let it go, I knew it was a good throw and I was thinking it would be around 53 meters (175 feet)," she told a reporter. "I had no idea it was going to be a 55-meter throw and win the national championship."
Blaine's victory was the first for a Purdue woman since 2002, when Serene Ross claimed the javelin title for the Boilermakers.
"It's just surreal," Blaine said shortly after stepping off the medal podium. "It's just starting to sink in what's happened and it feels amazing. To have come here four times and capped it all off with this is more than I could've imagined."
Blaine's winning throw traveled almost three feet farther than that of runner-up (and first-day leader) Erma Gene Evans of Texas-El Paso.
"I really had trouble getting out of the first day for the last three years," Blaine noted. "Having gotten past that and then come to this is a dream come true."
To help comemmorate her achievement, The Enterprise has chosen to put its "Sports Spotlight" on Blaine. Our questions and her answers follow.
When did you know you had won your first NCAA championship in the women's javelin, and what was your reaction to the news?
I didn't know I had won NCAA's until the last thrower (besides me) threw. I was overwhelmed with the thought of me being the NCAA champ. I mean it's every college athlete's goal and dream to someday win that title. That goal is what pushed me through those long rough days of practices and bad days of competitions. To reach that goal was absolutely amazing and the feeling that came along with that was beyond description.
Which was better? Winning the NCAA championship in your final nationals appearance or the state Class B championship your junior year of high school?
BY FAR, winning the NCAA championship was the best experience. I have worked so hard toward this goal these past couple of years in the weight room and on the runway. For all of that to pay off and to feel that sense of accomplishment was the best thing in the world.
You seemed to have gotten better as you got older, more
experienced. How was this season different from the previous three in terms of your preparation for and approach to competitions?
This season was completely different than all my other seasons. Coach Rodney Zuyderwyk changed my training and got me in the best shape I've been in. He presented workouts that were much more javelin-oriented and varied, so I wasn't doing the same thing day in and day out. This helped spice up the daily routines and make things more fun while making me a better javelin thrower.
My whole mode of thought and outlook on competitions changed. I was more focused but also much more relaxed than I had been in the past. In the last couple of years I would let my competiveness get the best of me and over-think everything--I was basically my own worst enemy. This year my confidence was very strong. I knew what I was capable of doing and what it was going to take to get there. In competition, I didn't over-think because I knew that it was already there and I should just let it flow, you can sort of say.
Are you surprised by the results you put up the last few weeks of the season? Did you think going in to nationals that you had a shot at winning the javelin competition?
I can't really say that I was that suprised about the results the last couple weeks (besides Nationals) of competition. I was working very hard, my training was entirely geared to peaking at these last meets.
Coach and I both knew that I was ready for some big throws and we hoped that they would come at the right time. Fortunately, they did. Going into Nationals of course I thought I had a chance of winning--doesn't everyone?! On any given day anything can happen; I don't think anyone should ever underestimate themselves.
From high school to college, you've enjoyed a lot of success, had some major accomplishments during your athletic career. Besides the obvious (athletics helped pay for your education), what role has athletics played in your life?
Athletics has always been a huge part of my life. My life has completely revolved around practices, workouts, and competitions for as long as I can remember. I know I would not be the same person without athletics.
It has taught me a lot about myself, putting me through the greatest lows, and highest highs. I have learned a lot about commitment, dedication, and goal setting.
Sports has helped me develop a certain type of confidence about myself that will never leave me and cliche as it might sound, I know that whatever I set my mind to I have the ability to accomplish it.
When do you graduate and what will your degree be in?
I'll graduate next May with a double major in Movement and Sport Science, and Psychology. I'll also have a minor in Pre-Physical Therapy if everything goes as planned.
What's next for you? Are you through with athletics or do you plan to continue competing?
Well, I will be at Purdue one more year finishing up my degrees. During that time I will continue training with Olympic hopes. Trials are next June/July, I've already qualified with the A standard. (Athletes who attain an A standard are automatically included in an event, under USA Track and Field qualifying guidelines.)
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