Calmer Approach Keys Edmonds
Michelle Edmonds no longer muscles her discus throws.
Instead, Edmonds has learned from the North Idaho College coaching staff, the less effort the better.
“I’ve changed a lot of my mental attitude,” the 1994 Mead High graduate said. “Sometimes, it’s kind of scary. You don’t think you’re competing really well.
“I used to be focused. I’d be very serious. Now, I try to remind myself it’s an effortless throw.”
And that approach is reaping rewards.
Edmonds won the women’s discus at last weekend’s 23rd Pelluer Invitational in Spokane by 5 feet.
Her winning throw of 147 feet, 3 inches came on her second attempt in the preliminaries. Edmonds’ previous personal best, and NIC school record, was 143-6.
“I took it easy, just relaxed and it took off,” Edmonds said. “It didn’t really feel like it was a long throw.”
Edmonds, who turns 19 on Saturday, plans to take a relaxed approach into the Region 18 championships, as well.
She has already met the NJCAA national outdoor qualifying standards for the discus and shot put.
In early March, Edmonds placed fourth in the shot put at the NJCAA indoor championships with a toss of 42-5.
“It’s kind of nice to know, but I don’t like to dwell on (being an AllAmerican),” Edmonds said. “I don’t like to think I’m any different than anybody else.”
Edmonds turned down track offers from Washington State, Pacific Lutheran, Idaho and Virginia Tech in favor of NIC.
“When I visited some of the fouryear schools, I was rating it like high school. I felt like a number,” Edmonds explained. “I had lots of oneon-one time in high school. I don’t think I was ready to take that big step (to a four-year program).”
Cardinals throwing coach Bart Templeman has helped Edmonds break some bad habits and make more effective use of the discus ring during her approach.
She consistently throws in the 145-foot range during practice and has a goal of 150 feet.
“A lot of times if you’re changing your technique, you can’t expect the first time you go compete that you’re going to throw well,” Edmonds said. “You’re throwing your best when muscle memory takes over.”
Heavy weight training, drills, dry runs and video reviewing have also improved Edmonds’ throwing.
A year ago, she failed to advance from the regional level to the Washington AAA high school meet, and her discus PR was 133 feet. As a junior, she threw second at state in the discus.
“People have been very impressed with her all year,” Cardinals coach Mike Bundy said.
“She’s a bright girl, so she understands the event. She’s a good enough athlete, she can translate (changes) into the event. She sets a school record every time she throws.”
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Region 18 Championships When: Today, starts at 2 p.m.; Friday, starts at 10 a.m. Where: Spokane Falls Community College What: The meet is a qualifier for the national finals May 18-20 in Odessa, Texas. Who: Winners in each event advance, as well as those meeting the national qualifying standards. Defending team champions: Ricks College men and women North Idaho College national qualifiers: Michelle Edmonds, freshman, women’s discus-shot put; Jennifer Downing, fr., women’s discus; Dusty Mavity, sophomore, women’s triple jump; Chris Thompson, so., men’s discus; Jeffrey Simms, so., men’s triple jump. Other NIC athletes to watch: Freshman Mitch Armuth is one inch away from the 50-foot, 10 1/2-inch national men’s shot put qualifying standard. Freshman Sarah Miller earned NJCAA All-America honors in the 800 meters at the indoor nationals. Jamaican Deon McCalla in the 100 and Bahaman Reggie Charlton in the 400 and 400 hurdles could be individual winners for the Cardinals, as well as Ben Nystrom in the discus. Coach’s comment: “Ricks has just got huge numbers and all quality kids; they’re not fooling around,” NIC coach Mike Bundy said. “Typically the way our team ends up approaching (regionals) is we always have a certain individual standout and a fair number of people who have made good progress,” Bundy added. The Cardinals enter 20 men and 20 women.