SPORTS

notice that her throws in practice were farther than ever thrown before and if she could put it together in a meet, she could possibly set a new personal record

As a result, at every outdoor meet this season she was throwing well over her average marks from last year and passed her previous personal record of 55.00m to throw 56.88m at the USD challenge meet in mid-April

“Leading up to the outdoor Summit League championship I knew I was ready to compete with the top girls I was going in ranked 4th but my coach always says, ‘It doesn’t take anything special ’ I knew that for my six throws that if I worked on one thing and held it throughout my throw that I would be in contention for placing. Each athlete is guaranteed three throws and then the top nine get three additional throws, in reverse order from lowest marks going first to highest marks going last. She was in fifth place after the initial rounds, and she had that ‘now or never’ moment

She recalled her coach’s pep talk to the entire team the even prior to the competition and his memorable advice – don’t hold back, what are you saving ‘it’ for?

“I knew that I had to calm my nerves and I had to give it all I had. I took my last threw and I knew it was going to be close and I was praying that it bumped my past fourth and into 3rd,” she remembered.

The second-best throw was 56 02 and the third best throw was 55.79, both above her personal best throws It would take an all or nothing moment to get her on the podium. When her mark came up as 56.45m she moved into second with only the other three girls to follow The minute the girl right after her didn’t surpass her distance she knew she was guaranteed a podium finish. “I was elated that I had finally proven to myself that I could challenge the other girls under that much pressure.”

It was an invigorating moment, one she likely won’t ever forget. Only the top 48 marks in each event goes on to compete in the west preliminary round in Arkansas Campbell finished a very respectable 60th and quickly established a new goal for next year – “I will be more than capable to make that meet!”’

Not ready to give up hockey?

Join the County of Brant for Children’s & Adult drop-in Ball Hockey in Burford! Runs on Thursdays from April 25 – June 20 at the Burford Community Centre – arena floor. Children’s 8-12 play from 6-7 pm ($3 a person) and adults play from 7-9 pm ($7 a person). You must bring your own equipment. More drop in program information is available here.