TRACK AND FIELD Sweet sweep sought

Alex Rathburn could win the shot put and discuss throws at the regional meet.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BERLIN CENTER — Alex Rathburn believes in the power of positive thinking and visualization.

That’s why before she throws the shot put and discus, the Western Reserve High senior conjures up outstanding performances in her mind with the hope that she then will turn her imagined feats into reality.

That mental strategy helped Rathburn to win handily both the shot put (40 feet, 1 inch) and discus (128-10) at last week’s Division III district track and field meet.

And those titles make her a strong candidate for another two-event sweep at the regional meet at Fairless High Stadium that begins today at 4 p.m.

The shot put finals will be today, with the discus showdown set for Friday.

The Div. I regional meet also will begin today at Austintown Fitch, while the Div. II regional gets under way Thursday at Ravenna.

The Div. I and Div. III regionals will continue Friday at 5 p.m., while the Div. II meet will be completed Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Carolina on her mind

Rathburn, a Coastal Carolina University recruit, also is hoping that her mental tactics, coupled with her strength, technique and experience, will make her a serious state championship contender this year in the shot put. She qualified for state the previous three years in the event and made it to state in the discus the past two years.

“You have to have a positive attitude going in. That is the big thing,” said Rathburn, who plans to double-major in psychology and sociology at Coastal Carolina while joining the women’s track team. “In a lot of meets around here, you don’t find the best competition, [so] you have to push yourself and have a positive attitude [to improve distances].

“I do a lot of visualization before I get into the ring. It all is a mental game to me. You clear your mind, think what you have to do and then do it.”

Training also big factor

But for her to maximize her performances from positive thinking and visualizations, she has to be ready physically.

“I do a lot of strength training in the weight room and a lot speed and footwork drills,” said Rathburn, who has been throwing the ball and platter since seventh grade. “And then usually when I am practicing I pick up a fake implement and go through the [throwing] movements to concentrate on technique.

“My coach [Marge Topoleski, in her 11th season] is really into technique and those kinds of drills.”

By implement, Rathburn means that, “I use a plastic Wiffle ball wrapped in duct tape, just to have something in your hand to go through the [throwing] drills.”

She also practices throwing with a lighter shot put.

“We throw the regular shot put [about 8.8 pounds] towards the end of practice for about the last 20 minutes,” Rathburn said.

Big strides this year

Rathburn has made big strides this season in both events, achieving personal-best throws of 42-10 in the shot put and 136-9 in the discus. She said she believes that she can be a state contender in the shot put.

“If I push hard enough in the shot put, I have a pretty good chance to come out as a champion,” said Rathburn, who dominated last week’s regional in both events, winning the shot put by 5 feet and the discus by 2 feet.

She thinks that she has the second or third best shot put in the state, but only the third- or fourth-best discus throw, conceding that the state discus will be dominated by the Pendleton sisters of Elmore Woodmore (near Toledo), especially senior Emily, who has thrown 180 feet.

“They are both right now ahead of me,” said Rathburn, who prefers the shot put over the discus.

The shot put is my stronger event,” Rathburn said. “Honestly, I enjoy it more. I put a lot more into it. It is a lot about technique. You can get mad and heave it. It is kind of a brute strength thing. I just enjoy it.”

kovach@vindy.com