Blewitt ready for U.S. Trials next month

By John Kovach

In July, the Boardman graduate will compete for an Olympic spot.

BOARDMAN — Feeling better and stronger than she has in a long time and ready to peak just at the right moment in her training regimen, Boardman native and shot-putter Adriane Blewitt is ready to give it her best shot to make the U.S. Olympic team.

“I am confident I can make it into the finals. I am confident that I can be in the top three [who make the team]. I have visualized it and trained hard and worked hard. I am ready,” said Blewitt, a Boardman High and Ashland University graduate who, after overcoming cancer, will make her second attempt to make the U.S. team after falling short in 2004.

She will leave on July 1 for the 2008 U.S. Summer Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Blewitt, ranked No. 6 in the nation by the U.S. Track and Field Magazine based on her last best throw of 56 feet, 5 inches, will be among 24 contenders in the women’s shot put semifinals on July 3, seeking to be among the 16 who advance to the finals on July 5.

The top three finalists will make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2008 Summer Olympics that will begin Aug. 8 in Beijing, China.

A sendoff and fundraiser was held for Blewitt on Friday at the A W Restaurant in Boardman, where she used to work.

Blewitt placed fifth in the finals of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials after being stricken with cancer in 2003 and overcoming the disease to make a comeback.

Now recovered from the disease and feeling stronger than she did in the summer of 2003 before becoming ill, she’s confident she can be among the top three this time if she can meet the Olympic standard of 60 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

“I am ahead of where I was at in the summer of 2003 before my illness,” said Blewitt, who now lives and trains in Scottsdale, Ariz., under coach Bill Godina. This week, she was at Ashland College training and visiting with her former coach, Jud Logan.

“I’m very confident I can meet the Olympic standard because I am basing it on my training and consistently throwing 55-56 feet this year,” Blewitt said. “I have been very frustrated [not letting loose for the big distance]. I am confident I can throw 62 feet and further. It is all timing for me.”

She said she recently backed off work in the weight room to do more sprints and biometrics.

“I am recovering faster, my strength is there, I haven’t lost anything, she said. “I have gained strength and I probably am just as strong as I was when in college.”

Blewitt’s best put was 60-1/4 in 2005. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer in 2003, her best throw was 59-1/4.

She is not bothered by throwing only 56-5 this year, because she has been consistent near that distance.

“I didn’t want to peak too early. It is better for me to be consistent instead of being all over the place with good throws and bad throws,” said Blewitt, noting that psychology and timing are important in throwing.

“A lot goes on in your mind. It is important to be prepared mentally and physically. Right now, I am visualizing that I can do it. It is an important part of my throwing I think.”

She is happy with her No. 6 ranking.

“I am pleased that they recognized me as a threat. They know that I have shown consistency this year, that I have not been all over the place with my throws. I’m dialed in and ready to throw for the big distance,” said Blewitt, who also is looking forward to competing in a throwing meet Saturday at Baldwin-Wallace College.

“This will be a last-chance meet for throwers going to the Olympic trials,” Blewitt said.

She is looking to see what power throws she has as she prepares to go all-out at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

“This will be an interesting week because I have never felt so recovered and so strong, and this is the first week of feeling this way,” she said. “It is very promising. I won’t be competing for another three weeks and this is where my timing comes into play.”

kovach@vindy.com