COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD Blewitt closing in on top shot putters

The Boardman graduate has been named Ashland University's top female athlete.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ASHLAND -- In less than three years since coming to Ashland University, Adriane Blewitt from Boardman High has increased her distance throwing the shot put by more than 10 feet, from 41 feet, 1 inch, to 51-61/4.
If the redshirt sophomore continues that same improvement over the next three years, she could be a candidate to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2004 games.
Competing in open competition against the best female shot putters in the nation last week at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., Blewitt broke Ashland's outdoor school record with a throw of 51-61/4 to place fifth.
That put her 9 feet, 13/4 inches behind the winner, Olympian Terry Punks (60-8) -- but still within range of overcoming this deficit before the 2004 Olympics -- considering her past improvement. The first-and second-place finishers also were Olympians.
Confident: Blewitt, coached by Denise Gorski at Boardman and now by former Olympian Jud Logan at Ashland, is confident she can continue to advance to catch up to Punks and the other Olympic hopefuls.
"Being around people who have excelled in the sport gave me the confidence to do well. For my strength levels, I have a lot more [improvement] in me. I feel I can throw a lot further with proper training," said Blewitt, who also holds the school's indoor shot put record.
"I think a lot of it will come from [the training in] college, but if I want to excel then I will have to continue post-collegiately. I'd like to go to at least one Olympic Trial. I'll graduate in 2003, and then have one year to hang around [Ashland] and train."
For now, the honors pour in for Blewitt, a two-time NCAA Division II national runner-up and All-American in the shot put -- outdoors (49-7 in 2000) and indoors (50-6 in 2001).
Top female athlete: Recently, she was recognized as the Ashland University 2000-2001 Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Her award was announced April 8, at the school's all-sports banquet and hall of fame induction.
An outstanding student with a 3.46 grade-point average health and physical education, Blewitt also recently was honored as the Outstanding Major of the Year from Ashland University by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
She was one of over 200 students recognized at the 116th Annual Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Cincinnati March 27-31.
Eyes national title: Her next big objective is to win the upcoming Div. II national championship, after losing last year by just inches with what was then a school-record 49-7 in Raleigh, N.C. She already has qualified for this year's meet.
Blewitt broke that record on April 7 at the Icebreaker Open at Kent State with a throw of 50-6, before shattering the mark again last week with the 51-61/4.
"I'm very optimistic about it [a national championship]. I think I have a strong chance if my training keeps going as well as it does," said Blewitt, who is the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion in the shot put both indoors and outdoors, and holds the GLIAC record indoors. "Plus, I have the desire to be national champion in the shot put."
Technique helps her: Not very muscular compared to other elite shot putters, Blewitt said she uses her technique to make up for any strength deficit while throwing the 8.8-pound collegiate shot put -- the same weight she threw in high school.
And she is looking forward to proving she can become a national champion.
"I think it will be pretty neat to show everyone [because] I'm not your typical shot putter -- I'm kind of skinny," said Blewitt. "I'm pretty muscular but wiry, not nearly as developed as some of the other shot putters."
She said Logan, a four-time Olympian, has "really shed new lights on my technique."