Boardman's Blewitt looks to regain form

Blewitt won her battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma and eyes the Olympics.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Last year, shot-putter Adriane Blewitt of Boardman was on top of the track world.
The former Boardman High and Ashland University standout had a career-best throw of 59 feet, 2 inches, was ranked fourth in the nation and became a prime candidate for the U.S. Olympic Team.
Then last fall, cancer struck and her world came crashing down to jeopardize not only her Olympic hopes and dreams, but her life.
Blewitt was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, underwent six months of chemotherapy treatment, was forced to put her shot-put training program on hold, lost 20 pounds and fell into a weakened condition.
Only her faith, determination and perseverance to overcome this giant obstacle kept her hopes alive, along with a regular weightlifting program.
And now, Blewitt is cancer-free, back on the comeback trail and making impressive strides.
Increased distances
When Blewitt's chemotherapy ended in March, she resumed practice and launched her comeback April 10 at the Sea Ray Relays in Tennessee with a third-place throw of 51-41/4.
She improved that distance to 51-41/2 on April 23 at the Drake Relays, to 53-11/2 on May 1 for second place at the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, to 54-13/4 on May 14 for second place at Georgia Tech and to 54-63/4 on May 22 at the Tucson Elite meet.
So in just a short span, Blewitt has increased her distance by 5 feet, 21/2 inches and is only 2-71/4 shy of her best throw (59-2). That makes her outlook promising at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
But she still is trying to get stronger and regain her throwing form before going all-out at the Olympic Trials.
"She is lifting heavy to build muscle, so she is not going to try to peak until she is close to the Trials," said her mother, Rae Blewitt. "She is in an odd situation in which she hasn't been forced to have a big throw."
No predictions
Rae doesn't know how Adriane will do at the Olympic Trials.
"She is a wild card. She can go either way. No one has really had to do anything like this, so we don't know how long it will take to get her muscle to come back," said Rae.
But Rae noted that, "A track and field magazine had the top-10 predictions for the Olympics, and Adriane is No. 8, just basing that on her performance so far this year."
Rae said Adriane "was very determined all through chemo to keep training and not lose muscle. I really admire that in her, that she never complained. I don't know why this hand was dealt to her, but she is hoping that she can make the best of it and change it to something positive."
Denise Gorski, Blewitt's track coach at Boardman High, is encouraged by Blewitt's comeback.
"As you can see, Adriane is steadily improving with every meet," said Gorski.
Regardless of how Blewitt does in the Olympic Trials, she already has proved she is a winner -- battling and so far beating a disease, persevering with her training regimen to make a comeback and taking her shot at her Olympic dream.
Anything else will be icing on the cake.